MOLECULAR MODEL FOR THE PRESSURE OF AN IDEAL GAS

1. The number of molecules is large, and the average separation between them is large compared with size. Therefore, the molecules occupy a negligible volume compared with the volume of the container and are considered point masses. 2. The molecules obey Newton's laws of motion, but the individual molecules move in a random fashion. By random fashion, we mean that the molecules move in all directions with equal probability and with various speeds. 3. The molecules undergo elastic collisions with each other, that is, the kinetic energy and momentum are conserved. 4. The forces between molecules are negligible except during a collision. 5. The gas is in thermal equilibrium with the walls of the container. Hence, a wall will eject as many molecules as it absorbs, and the ejected molecules will have the same average kinetic energy as the absorbed molecules.

INTRODUCTION TO THE PRESSURE OF AN IDEAL GAS

P is proportional to the number of collisions which is proportional to the concentration = N/V where N = number of molecules and V = volume.

WHAT IS THE RELATION BETWEEN K.E. AND T FOR A GAS?

N where N = number of molecules and V = volume V N ( mv ) where mv = momentum = V N N ( mv ) v = ( mv 2 ) V V

1N 2 N 1 2 mv 2 ) = ( mv 3V 3V 2

( mass 1 molecule )( velocity )

P =

P =

2N ( K .E. for 1 molecule ) 3V

P =

2 N 1 2 2 N ( K .E. for 1 molecule ) mv = 3V 2 3V

N 2 NA 1 P = N A mv 2 where N A is Avogadro ' s number 3 V 2

P =

1n 2n Mv 2 ) = ( molar K .E.) where M is kg / mol ( 3V 3V 2 n ( molar K .E.) = nRT 3 3 RT 2

PV

molar K .E. =

T (in K) is a direct measure of the K.E.

VELOCITY DISTRIBUTION FOR N2 GAS AT VARIOUS TEMPERATURES

Relative number of N2 molecules with given speed

298 K

1000 K 2000 K

500

1000

1500

2000

Speed (m/s)

Note, area under the curves is the same, that is, there is the same total number of molecules.

VELOCITY DISTRIBUTION FOR VARIOUS GASES AT 298 K

Relative number of molecules with given speed

Kr

N2

He

500

1000

1500

2000

Speed (m/s)

Note, area under the curves is the same, that is, there is the same total number of molecules.

MOLECULAR INTERPRETATION OF TEMPERATURE T in K R = 8.31 J/(mol-K)

ave molar K . E . =

3 2

RT

v (m/s) 8 10 12

v2(m/s) 2 64 100 144

molar K .E. = 1 M v 2 = 3 RT 2 2
T in K R = 8.31 J/(mol-K) M in kg/mol

v = 10 v 2 = 103
v 2 = 10.13

vrms

3RT = v = M
2

Example: What is the root mean square speed of N2 at 25C?

vrms

kg m 2 ( 3) 8.31 2 ( 298K ) s K mol 3RT = 515m / s = = 3 M 28.0 x10 kg / mol

VELOCITY DISTRIBUTION AND VELOCITIES

Relative number of N2 molecules with given speed

N2 at 298 K

500

1000

1500

vmp vave vrms

Speed (m/s)

vrms

3RT = v2 = M

T in K R = 8.31 J/(mol-K) M in kg/mol

64

EFFUSION

DIFFUSION

rate vrms =

3RT M

DETERMINING AN UNKNOWN MOLAR MASS Example: In 15.0 s 10.0% of CO2 gas effuses out of a small hole in in a container. Under the same conditions as CO2, it takes an unknown gas 25.8 s for 10% of it to effuse. What is the molar mass of the unknown gas?
rate 1 t
= Mx M CO2
2 44 g 25.8s 2 = = 1.30 x10 g / mol mol 15.0 s 2

tx tCO2

rateCO2 ratex

tx M x = M CO2 tCO 2