--%>

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 : Analytical chemistry 37% weight of HCl

    37% weight of HCl and density is 1.1g/ml. find molarity of HCl

  • Q : Describe properties of carboxylic acids.

    1. Physical state: the first three aliphatic acids are colourless liquids with pungent smell. The next six are oily liquids with an odour of rancid butter while the higher members are colourless, odourless waxy solids. Benzoic acid is referred to

  • Q : Molarity of Sulfuric acid Choose the

    Choose the right answer from following. What is the molarity of H2SO4 solution, that has a density 1.84 gm/cc at 35c and contains solute 98% by weight: (a) 4.18 M (b) 8.14 M (c)18.4 M (d)18 M

  • Q : Concentration of Barium chloride Give

    Give me answer of this question. If 5.0gm of BaCl2 is present in 106 gm solution, the concentration is: (a)1 ppm (b)5 ppm (c)50 ppm (d)1000 ppm

  • Q : Maximum vapour pressure Provide

    Provide solution of this question. Which solution will show the maximum vapour pressure at 300 K: (a)1MC12H22O11 (b)1M CH3 COOH (c) 1MNacl2 (d)1MNACl

  • Q : Problem on normality Help me to solve

    Help me to solve this problem. 0.5 M of H2AO4 is diluted from 1 lire to 10 litre, normality of resulting solution is : (a)1 N (b) 0.1 N (c)10 N (d)11 N

  • Q : Define Virial Equation The constant of

    The constant of vander Waal's equation can be related to the coefficients of the virial equation.  Vander Waal's equation provides a good overall description of the real gas PVT behaviour. Now let us

  • Q : What are haloalkanes and haloarenes and

    Alkyl halides or haloalkanes are the compounds in which a halogen is bonded to an alkyl group. They have the general formula RX (where R is alkyl grou

  • Q : Donnan Membrane Equilibria The electric

    The electric charge acquired by macromolecules affects the equilibrium set up across a semipermeable membrane.Laboratory studies of macromolecule solutions as in osmotic pressure and dialysis studies confine the macromolecules to one compartment while allo

  • Q : Explain Second Order Rate Equations.

    Integration of the second order rate equations also produces convenient expressions for dealing with concentration time results.A reaction is classified as second order if the rate of the reaction is proportional to the square of the concentration of one o