Real Gas And Equation

Real Gas And Equation

Vishal kumarUpdated on 02 Jul 2025, 05:33 PM IST

A true gas is one that defies gas laws under all typical pressure and temperature conditions. As the gas gets massive and voluminous, it starts to behave differently from how it should. Real gases have mass, volume, and velocity. When cooled to their boiling point, they liquefy. When compared to the overall amount of gas, the space used by gas is not modest.

Real Gas And Equation
Real Gas And Equation

In this article, we will cover the concept of the real gas equation. This is one of the important concepts in the chapter Kinetic Theory of Gases. It is not only important for board exams but also for competitive exams like the Joint Entrance Examination (JEE Main), National Eligibility Entrance Test (NEET), and other entrance exams such as SRMJEE, BITSAT, WBJEE and more. In the last ten years of JEE Main and NEET, no direct questions were asked.

What is Real Gas?

Real gas: The gases which do not obey gas Laws are called Real gas.

Two main factors because of which Real gas deviates from ideal gas are:

1) Presence of force of attraction between molecules.

2) The size of molecules is not negligible.

The gases actually found in nature are called real gases.

From the ideal gas equation, we get

For exactly one mole of an ideal gas PVRT=1

The quantity PVRT is called the compressibility factor and should be a unit for an ideal gas.

Plotting the experimentally determined value of PVRT for exactly one mole of various real gases as a function of pressure P shows a deviation from identity as shown in the below graph.

Similarly, real gases show deviation from ideal behaviour as a function of temperature as shown in the below graph.

From the above graphs, we can say that A real gas behaves as an ideal gas most closely at low pressure and high temperature.

Real Gas Equation

The real gas equation, For n moles of gas, is given by

(P+n2aV2)(V−nb)=nRT....... (1)

Where a and b are called Vander wall's constant having dimensions and units as follows:

Dimension : [a]=[ML5T−2] and [b]=[L3]
Units : a=N×m and b=m3
Dimension : [a]=[ML5T−2] and [b]=[L3]
Units : a=N×m and b=m3

As we know the ideal gas equation is PV=nRT...... (2)

From equations (1) and (2) we can say that

The real gas equation is nothing but the ideal gas equation with two corrections (i.e Volume correction and Pressure correction)

These corrections are given by Vander Waal's. So the real gas equation is also known as Vander Waal's gas equation.

  • Volume correction- Due to the finite size of the molecules the effective volume of gas becomes (V –nb).
  • Pressure correction- Due to the presence of intermolecular force in real gases, the effective pressure of gas becomes P+n2aV2

For More Information On Real Gas And Equation, Watch The Below Video:


Solved Example Based on Real Gas And Equation

Example 1: For an oxygen molecule (molecular mass 32 g/mole ), the mass of a single molecule of O2 is P×10−24 gmolecules −1, then what is the value of P ?

1) 85.16

2) 53.14

3) 63.23

4) 38.29

Solution:

Avogadro's Number

NA=Mm

M = molecular mass of the compound

m = mass of single molecules

mO2=MNA=32 g mole−16.022×1023 molecular mole −1mO2=53.14×10−24 gmolecule−1

Hence, the answer is option (2).

Example 2: The compressibility factor for real gas can be -

1) Less than 0

2) Less than 1

3) More than 1

4) Both (2) and (3)

Solution:

We know pressure is inversely proportional to volume. So, if the pressure is high, then the volume will be low.

1. At high pressure, aV2 can be neglected.

PV−Pb=RTPVRT=1+PbRT

In this case, the compressibility factor is greater than 1.

2. At low pressure

If the pressure is low then the volume will be high, V>>b

Hence, the equation becomes-

(P+aV2)(V)=RT

Rearranging this equation, we get

PV=RT−aVPVRT=1−PbRT

In this case, the compressibility factor is less than 1.

So, the compressibility factor can be greater than or less than 1 for real gas

Hence, the answer is the option (4).

Example 3: For which of the following conditions is the law PV = RT obeyed most closely by a real gas,

1) High pressure and high temperature

2) High pressure and low temperature

3) low pressure and low temperature

4) Low-pressure and high-temperature

Solution:

Real gases deviate slightly from ideal gas law because of two main factors.

Two main factors are;

1) The force of attraction between molecules.

2) The size of molecules is not negligible.

And above two criteria will be fulfilled at low pressure and high temperature, and then the real gases behave like ideal gases.

Hence, the answer is the option (4).

Example 4: The equation of the state of a gas is given by P(V−b)=nRT. If 1 mole of a gas is isothermally expanded from volume V to 2 V, the work done during the process is:

1) RTln⁡|2V−bV−b|
2) RTln⁡|V−bV|
3) RTln⁡|V−b2V−b|
4) RTln⁡|VV−b|

Solution:

W=∫PdV=∫V2 VnRTV−bdV=RTln⁡|2 V−bV−b|

Hence, the answer is the option (1).

Summary

In order to determine the velocity and volume of the gas molecules, the general kinetic theory of gases treats the molecules as particles. According to this hypothesis, when gas molecules collide with a container's surface or with each other, the pressure inside the gas molecules rises. This theory is used to assess and determine a number of gas properties.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q: How do real gas effects influence the design of cryogenic systems?
A:
Real gas effects are critical in cryogenic systems
Q: What is the significance of the Leiden frost point in real gas behavior?
A:
The Leidenfrost point, while primarily associated with liquid-solid interactions, has implications for real gas behavior near surfaces. It relates to the formation of an insulating vapor layer, which can affect heat transfer and fluid dynamics in high-temperature gas systems. Understanding this phenomenon is important in certain combustion and heat transfer applications involving real gases.
Q: How do real gas behaviors affect the calculation of heat capacities?
A:
For real gases, heat capacities (Cp and Cv) depend not only on temperature but also on pressure, unlike ideal gases. This pressure dependence arises from intermolecular forces and becomes more significant at high pressures or low temperatures. Accurate calculation of heat capacities is crucial for energy balances and thermodynamic cycle analyses involving real gases.
Q: What is the principle behind the Virial equation truncated to the third term?
A:
The Virial equation truncated to the third term includes the second and third virial coefficients: PV/nRT = 1 + B/V + C/V². This form provides a balance between simplicity and accuracy, capturing both two-body (B) and three-body (C) molecular interactions. It's particularly useful for gases at moderate densities where higher-order terms become less significant.
Q: How do real gas effects influence the behavior of gases in porous media?
A:
Real gas effects become significant in porous media, especially in applications like natural gas reservoirs or gas storage in rock formations. The confined spaces in porous media enhance the importance of intermolecular forces and molecular size effects. This influences gas flow, adsorption behavior, and storage capacity calculations in ways that deviate from ideal gas predictions.
Q: What is the concept of generalized compressibility charts and how are they used for real gases?
A:
Generalized compressibility charts are graphical tools that allow the prediction of real gas behavior based on reduced temperature and pressure (relative to critical properties). These charts, based on the principle of corresponding states, provide a quick way to estimate compressibility factors and other properties for various gases without complex calculations, making them valuable in engineering practice.
Q: How do real gas behaviors affect the design of gas turbines and engines?
A:
Real gas effects are crucial in the design of gas turbines and engines, especially those operating at high pressures and temperatures. These effects influence the compression work, expansion work, and overall efficiency of the system. Engineers must use real gas properties to accurately predict performance and optimize designs, particularly for advanced high-efficiency cycles.
Q: What is the significance of the Boyle inversion temperature for real gases?
A:
The Boyle inversion temperature is the temperature at which the second virial coefficient of a gas changes sign. Below this temperature, intermolecular attractions dominate, causing the gas to be more compressible than an ideal gas. Above it, repulsions dominate, making the gas less compressible. Understanding this temperature is important for predicting gas behavior across different temperature ranges.
Q: How do real gas effects influence the calculation of partial molar properties in gas mixtures?
A:
In real gas mixtures, partial molar properties (like partial molar volume or enthalpy) can deviate significantly from those in ideal mixtures. These deviations arise from non-ideal mixing effects and intermolecular forces between different types of molecules. Accurate calculation of partial molar properties is crucial for understanding and predicting the behavior of gas mixtures in various applications.
Q: What is the principle behind the Soave modification of the Redlich-Kwong equation?
A:
The Soave modification of the Redlich-Kwong equation introduces a temperature-dependent term to better account for molecular attractions, especially for hydrocarbon systems. This modification improves predictions of vapor-liquid equilibria and is widely used in the petroleum industry for process simulations and phase behavior calculations.