What are the limitations of the ideal gas law?
1 Answer
The ideal gas law makes some assumptions about gases that are not necessarily true. This means that the ideal gas law has some limitations.
Explanation:
For example, the ideal gas law makes an assumption that gas particles have no volume and are not attracted to each other.
Here's why the idea gas law has limitations.
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Imagine that you condense an ideal gas. Since the particles of an ideal gas have no volume, a gas should be able to be condensed to a volume of zero. Reality check: Real gas particles occupy space. A gas will be condensed to form a liquid which has volume. The gas law no longer applies because the substance is no longer a gas!
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Same scenario. We assume that gas particles are not attracted to each other. Reality check: Real gas particles are attracted to each other. As kinetic energy decreases as a gas is cooled, the particles will eventually move slowly enough that there attractive forces cause them to condense. The gas law no longer applies because the substance is no longer a gas!