Question

In the van der Waals equation $\bigg \lgroup P+\frac{an^{2} }{V^{2}} \bigg \rgroup$(V - nb) = nRT. The constant ‘a’ accounts for what property of molecules of real gases ?

Answer 1

Van der Waals equation:

$\bigg \lgroup P+\frac{an^{2} }{V^{2}} \bigg \rgroup$(V - nb) = nRT.  

Here a and b are Van der waals  constants.

Van der Waals constant “a”: It measures the magnitude of the attractive forces among the molecules of the gas.

If the value of “a” is greater than the intermolecular forces of attraction are larger. Hence it exhibits the property of real gases at high pressure.