Question

How would you determine the volume that 1 mol of a gas at 0°C and 1 atm occupies?

Answer 1

By means of the Ideal gas law.

Explanation:

`PV = nRT`; where `P` is pressure; `V` is volume; `R` is the appropriate gas constant (usefully `R` `=` `0.0821` `L*atm*K^(-1)*mol^(-1)`), and `T` is the absolute temperature in Kelvin, `K`.

You will always be given these constants, but you must manipulate them so that you get an answer with the appropriate units.

If `V` `=` `(nRT)/P`, then `V` `=` `(1*molxx0.0821*L*atm*K^(-1)*mol^(-1)xx273K)/(1*atm)` will give me an answer in litres.

Alternatively, it is a given that 1 mole of ideal gas will occupy a volume of `22.4` `dm^3` at `273` `K`. And `1` `dm^3` `=` `{1xx10^(-1)m}^3` `=` `1xx10^(-3)*m^3` `=` `1` `L` (a litre is a 1000th of a cubic metre).