Question

The correction factor ‘a’ to the ideal gas equation corresponds to:
A.Electric field present between the gas molecule
B.Density of the gas molecules
C.Force of attraction between the gas molecules
D.Volume of the gas molecules

Answer 1

For an ideal gas the assumptions made regarding volume of gas molecule and force of attraction between the gases molecules were not fit for real gases. Hence two correction terms were introduced ‘a’ and ‘b’. The correction term ‘b’ represents the force of attraction.

Complete step by step answer:
The kinetic theory of gas assumes that the volume of each gas molecule is negligible as compared to total volume. This statement is practically invalid. According to this statement a gas cannot be liquefied because gas molecules have no volume in it, but in real life we can actually liquefy a gas which proves that it possesses a certain volume. Hence for real gas we introduced a term for correction of volume that is denoted by ‘a’.

Hence D is the correct option.

Additional information:
The postulates for kinetic theory of gases are:
-A Gas is a collection of a large number of atoms or molecules.
-The volume of gas is equal to the volume of the container in which it is contained in.
-Particles are far away from each other and have no force of attraction between them.
-The particles of gas are always in constant random motion. The motion of a gas molecule is always straight.
-The average kinetic energy is proportional to the temperature of the gas.
-Molecules of gas collide with each other and with the walls of containers exerting pressure. -The pressure is directly proportional to the number of moles of gas.
-All the collision is perfectly elastic.

Note:
An ideal gas is a gas that obeys all the gas laws under all conditions of temperature and pressure. It is a theoretical gas and has no real significance. A real gas or Van Der Waal gas is that gas which does not obey the laws under all conditions. At high temperature and low pressure as real gas behaves as ideal gas.