## Ideal vs Real Gas

$PV=nRT$

Courtney McHargue 1I
Posts: 56
Joined: Fri Sep 28, 2018 12:17 am

### Ideal vs Real Gas

What's the physical and chemical difference between ideal and real gases?

Ashley Kim
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Joined: Fri Sep 28, 2018 12:19 am
Been upvoted: 1 time

### Re: Ideal vs Real Gas

Ideal gases and real gases have no physical/chemical differences!

Rather, ideal gases are theoretical (meaning they do NOT exist). They fit perfectly into the equation PV=nRT, meaning that their particles obtain a negligible volume and have no attractive forces. However, this is not true for real gases (which do exist). Gas particles obtain a small volume, and they have small attractive forces.

Christopher Anisi 2K
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Joined: Fri Sep 28, 2018 12:21 am

### Re: Ideal vs Real Gas

In addition, ideal gases are supposed to have elastic collisions with their respective molecules meaning that no energy is lost when they interact with one another! A real gas acts like an ideal gas during the conditions of high temperature and a low pressure.

Philipp_V_Dis1K
Posts: 32
Joined: Fri Sep 28, 2018 12:20 am

### Re: Ideal vs Real Gas

One could use the van der waals equation to see the difference between real and ideal gases.

haleyervin7
Posts: 61
Joined: Fri Sep 28, 2018 12:15 am

### Re: Ideal vs Real Gas

For purposes of calculation, do we always assume it is an ideal gas?

lindsey_ammann_4E
Posts: 61
Joined: Fri Sep 28, 2018 12:26 am

### Re: Ideal vs Real Gas

haleyervin7 wrote:For purposes of calculation, do we always assume it is an ideal gas?

For the purposes of this class, we need to assume that a gas is an ideal gas in order to use the idea gas equation. If the problem requires calculations, it's safe to assume it's an ideal gas.

Jonny Schindler 1A
Posts: 30
Joined: Fri Sep 28, 2018 12:20 am

### Re: Ideal vs Real Gas

The equation for the ideal gas law can be modified to correct for characteristics of a specific gas. It can incorporate the attraction between gas molecules as well as the volume of the gas molecules.