Chapter 14, Problem 92A

Interpretation Introduction

Interpretation: The real gas with the closest characteristics of an ideal gas needs to be determined

Concept Introduction: The molecules of an ideal gas do not attract or repel each other. The ideal gas molecules show the elastic collision between each other and the walls of the container. Here, real gas deviates from ideal behavior because there is an attractive force between real gas molecules. The forces of attraction between molecules result in a non-elastic collision between the molecules.

Explanation of Solution

The real gas that comes closest to having the characteristics of an ideal gas is helium. The reason is that helium is found as a single atom but most gases are in bimolecular or trimolecular form. Due to a single atom, there are negligible van der Waals dispersion forces seen between the helium atoms and it acts like an ideal gas.