AP Chemistry 3.6: Deviation from the Ideal Gas Law

Practice AP Chemistry 3.6 questions on why real gases deviate from ideal behavior because of interparticle attractions and particle volume.

Exam points

Use Lewis structures and bonding models to compare ionic, covalent, metallic, and network solids.
Relate lattice or bond strength to melting point, conductivity, solubility, and other material properties.

Covered syllabus points

3.6.A—Explain the relationship among non-ideal behaviors of gases, interparticle forces, and/or volumes

[Maximum number: 1]

A student investigates gas behavior using a rigid cylinder with a movable piston of negligible mass, as shown in the diagram above. The cylinder contains 0.325 mol of $\mathrm{O}_{2}(g)$ .

The student further cools the cylinder to $-180^{\circ} \mathrm{C}$ and observes that the measured volume of the $\mathrm{O}_{2}(g)$ is substantially smaller than the volume that is calculated using the ideal gas law. Assume all equipment is functioning properly. Explain why the measured volume of the $\mathrm{O}_{2}(g)$ is smaller than the calculated volume. (The boiling point of $\mathrm{O}_{2}(l)$ is $-183^{\circ} \mathrm{C}$ .)

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Covered syllabus points

3.6 Deviation from Ideal Gas Law question 1