Non-Ideal Gas Behaviour Practice

Graphs showing the behavior of several different gases follow. Which of these gases exhibit behavior significantly different from that expected for ideal gases?

This figure includes 6 graphs. The first, which is labeled, “Gas A,” has a horizontal axis labeled, “Temperature,” and a vertical axis labeled, “Volume.” A straight blue line segment extends from the lower left to the upper right of this graph. The open area in the lower right portion of the graph contains the label, “n, P constant.” The second, which is labeled, “Gas B,” has a horizontal axis labeled, “P,” and a vertical axis labeled, “P V.” A straight blue line segment extends horizontally across the center of this graph. The open area in the lower right portion of the graph contains the label, “n, T constant.” The third, which is labeled, “Gas C,” has a horizontal axis labeled,“P V divided by R T,” and a vertical axis labeled, “Moles.” A blue curve begins about halfway up the vertical axis, dips slightly, then increases steadily to the upper right region of the graph. The fourth, which is labeled, “Gas D,” has a horizontal axis labeled, “P V divided by R T,” and a vertical axis labeled, “Moles.” A straight blue line segment extends horizontally across the center of this graph. The open area in the lower right portion of the graph contains the label “n, P constant.” The fifth, which is labeled, “Gas E,” has a horizontal axis labeled, “Temperature,” and a vertical axis labeled, “Volume.” A blue curve extends from the lower left to the upper right of this graph. The open area in the lower right portion of the graph contains the label “n, P constant.” The sixth graph, which is labeled, “Gas F,” has a horizontal axis labeled, “Temperature,” and a vertical axis labeled, “Pressure.” A blue curve begins toward the lower left region of the graph, increases at a rapid rate, then continues to increase at a relatively slow rate moving left to right across the graph. The open area in the lower right portion of the graph contains the label, “n, V constant.”
The behaviour of several different gases.
Solution

Gases C, E, and F

Under which of the following sets of conditions does a real gas behave most like an ideal gas, and for which conditions is a real gas expected to deviate from ideal behavior? Explain.

(a) high pressure, small volume
(b) high temperature, low pressure
(c) low temperature, high pressure

Solution

The gas behavior most like an ideal gas will occur under the conditions in (b). Molecules have high speeds and move through greater distances between collision; they also have shorter contact times and interactions are less likely. Deviations occur with the conditions described in (a) and (c). Under conditions of (a), some gases may liquefy. Under conditions of (c), most gases will liquefy.