--%>

Molecular Diameters

The excluded volume b, introduced by vander Wall's as an empirical correction term, can be related to the size gas molecules. To do so, we assume the excluded volume is the result of the pairwise coming together of molecules. This assumption is justified when b values are obtained from second viral coefficient data. Fitting values for the empirical constants are derived from van der Waal's equation. Some b values obtained in this way are given in table.


So that we need to deal with a single molecular size parameter, we treat molecules as spherical particles. The diameter of a molecule is d. the volume of a molecule is v

The volume in which a pair of molecules cannot move because of each other's presence is indicated by the lightly shaded region. The radius of this excluded volume sphere is equal to the molecule diameter d. the volume excluded to the pair of molecules is 4/3πd3. We thus obtain,

= 4[4/3π (d/2)]3

The expression in brackets is the volume of a molecule.vander Waal's b term is the excluded volume per mole of the molecules. Thus we have, with N representing Avogadro's number,

B= 4n [4/3π (d/2)3] = 4N (vol. of molecule)

Molecular size and Lennard Jones intermolecular Attraction term based on second virial coefficient data:

Gas Excluded volume B, L mol-1 Molecular diam. D, pm ELJ, J × 10-21
He 0.021 255 0.14
Ne 0.026 274 0.49
Ar 0.050 341 1.68
Kr 0.058 358 2.49
Xe 0.084 405 3.11
H2 0.031 291 0.52
N2 0.061 364 1.28
O2 0.058 358 1.59
CH4 0.069 380 1.96
C(CH3)4 0.510 739 3.22


Van der Waal's equation and the Boyle temperature:

Gas Tboyle, K Tboyle/TC
H2 110 3.5
He 23 4.5
CH4 510 2.7
NH3 860 2.1
N2 330 2.6
O2 410 2.7


Example: calculate the radius of the molecule from the value of 0.069 L mol-1 for the excluded volume b that is obtained from the second virial coefficient data.

Solution: the volume of 1 mol of methane molecules is obtained by dividing the b value of 0.069 L mol-1 = 69 × 10-6 m3 mol-1 value by 4. Then division by Avogadro's number gives the volume per molecule. We have:

Volume of methane molecule = 69 × 10-6 m3/4 × 6.022 × 1023 

= 2.86 × 10-29 m
3

The volume is equal to 4/3∏r3 and on this basis we calculate:

r = 1.90 × 10-10 m and d = 3.80 × 10-10 m = 380 pm

   Related Questions in Chemistry

  • Q : Pressure Phase Diagrams The occurrence

    The occurrence of different phases of a one component system can be shown on a pressure temperature. The phases present in a one line system at various temperatures can be conveniently presented on a P- versus-T diagram. An example is pro

  • Q : Describe Enzyme Catalyzed reactions

    Many enzyme catalyzed reactions obeys a complex rate equation that can be written as the total quantity of enzyme and the whole amount of substrate in the reaction system. Many rate equations that are more complex than first and se

  • Q : Soluation of Ideal Gas Law problems

    Explain the method, how do you solve Ideal Gas Law problems?

  • Q : Reactivity of allyl and benzyl halides

    why allyl halide and haloarenes are more reactive than alkyl halide towards nucleophilic substitution

  • Q : Question based on maximum vapour

    Provide solution of this question. Which has maximum vapour pressure: (a) HI (b) HBr (c) HCl (d) HF

  • Q : Question based on vapour pressure and

    Benzene and toluene form nearly ideal solutions. At 20°C, the vapour pressure of benzene is 75 torr and that of toluene is 22 torr. The parial vapour pressure of benzene at 20°C for a solution containing 78g of benzene and 46g of toluene in torr is: (a) 50 (b)

  • Q : Alkaline medium The amount of KMnO 4

    The amount of KMnO4 required to prepare 100 ml of 0.1N solution in alkaline medium is: (a) 1.58 gm (b) 3.16 gm (c) 0.52 gm (d) 0.31 gmAnswer: (a) In alkaline medium KMnO4 act as ox

  • Q : Problem based on molecular weight

    Select the right answer of the question. Molecular weight of urea is 60. A solution of urea containing 6g urea in one litre is : (a)1 molar (b)1.5 molar (c) 0.1 molar (d) 0.01 molar

  • Q : What is schrodinger wave equation? The

    The Schrodinger wave equation generalizes the fitting-in-of-waves procedure.The waves that "fit" into the region to which the particle is contained can be recognized "by inspection" only for a few simple systems. For other problem a mathematical procedure

  • Q : Solubility are halides are halogens

    are halides are halogens more soluble? why?