--%>

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 : What do you mean by the term Organic

    What do you mean by the term Organic Chemistry? Briefly define the term?

  • Q : Haloalkanes define primary secondary

    define primary secondary and tertiary alkyl halides with examples

  • Q : Describe the function of the

    Briefly describe the function of the monosaccharide?

  • Q : What are the chemical properties of

    Haloalkanes are extremely reactive category of aliphatic compounds. Their reactivity is due to the presence of polar carbon-halogen bond in their mole

  • Q : Reaction of calcium carbonate Give me

    Give me answer of this question. What is the volume of 0.1NHcl required to react completely with 1.0g of pure calcium carbonate : (Ca= 40, C= 12 and o = 16 ) (a)150cm3 (b)250cm3 (c)200cm3 (d)100cm3

    Q : Molecular Properties Symmetry Molecular

    Molecular orbitals and molecular motions belong to certain symmetry species of the point group of the molecule.Examples of the special ways in which vectors or functions can be affected by symmetry operations are illustrated here. All wave functions soluti

  • Q : Moles of chloride ion Select the right

    Select the right answer of the question. A solution of CaCl2 is 0.5 mol litre , then the moles of chloride ion in 500ml will be : (a) 0.25 (b) 0.50 (c) 0.75 (d)1.00

  • Q : Calculating number of moles from

    Choose the right answer from following. If 0.50 mol of CaCl2 is mixed with 0.20 mol of Na3PO4, the maximum number of moles of Ca3 (PO2)2 which can be formed: (a) 0.70 (b) 0.50 (c) 0.20 (d) 0.10

  • Q : Solutions The normality of 10 lit.

    The normality of 10 lit. volume hydrogen peroxide is: (a) 0.176 (b) 3.52 (c) 1.78 (d) 0.88 (e)17.8

  • Q : Problem based on normality Choose the

    Choose the right answer from following. NaClO solution reacts with H2SO3 as,. NaClO + H2SO3→NaCl+ H2SO4. A solution of NaClO utilized in the above reaction contained 15g of NaClO per litre. The