Esci341 Lesson04 Ideal Gases

ESCI 341 – Atmospheric Thermodynamics
Lesson 4 –Ideal Gases
References: An Introduction to Atmospheric Thermodynamics, Tsonis

Introduction to Theoretical Meteorology, Hess
Physical Chemistry (4th edition), Levine
Thermodynamics and an Introduction to Thermostatistics, Callen
IDEAL GASES
 An ideal gas is a gas with the following properties:
 There are no intermolecular forces, except during collisions.
 All collisions are elastic.
 The individual gas molecules have no volume (they behave like point masses).
 The equation of state for ideal gasses is known as the ideal gas law.
 The ideal gas law was discovered empirically, but can also be derived
theoretically. The form we are most familiar with,
pV  nRT . Ideal Gas Law (1)
 R has a value of 8.3145 J-mol1-K1, and n is the number of moles (not

molecules).
 A true ideal gas would be monatomic, meaning each molecule is comprised of a
single atom.
 Real gasses in the atmosphere, such as O2 and N2, are diatomic, and some gasses
such as CO2 and O3 are triatomic.
 Real atmospheric gasses have rotational and vibrational kinetic energy, in
addition to translational kinetic energy.
 Even though the gasses that make up the atmosphere aren’t monatomic, they
still closely obey the ideal gas law at the pressures and temperatures encountered
in the atmosphere, so we can still use the ideal gas law.
FORM OF IDEAL GAS LAW MOST USED BY METEOROLOGISTS

 In meteorology we use a modified form of the ideal gas law. We first divide (1)
by volume to get
n
p RT .
V
we then multiply the RHS top and bottom by the molecular weight of the gas, M,
to get
Mn R
p T.
V M
Mn/V is just the density of the gas. By defining R/M to be the specific gas
constant, R, we get the following form of the ideal gas law
p   RT . (2)
 The specific gas constant is different for each gas! It is found by dividing the
universal gas constant by the molecular weight of the gas.
 Dry air has a molecular weight of 28.964 g/mol. The specific gas constant for
dry air is then 287.1 J kg1 K1, and is given the symbol Rd. The ideal gas law for
dry air is then
p   Rd T (3)
or equivalently, in terms of specific volume,

p  Rd T . (4)
USEFUL RELATIONS FOR COMPARING TWO STATES OF AN IDEAL GAS

 One very useful consequence of the ideal gas law that it can be rewritten [from
Eq. (4) for an arbitrary gas] as
p
 R . (5)
T
This allows us to compare variables for two different states of the same gas by
writing
p11 p2 2
 . (6)
T1 T2
 As an example, imagine if a gas expands to twice its original volume while
maintaining a constant pressure. From Eq. (6) we can immediately figure out
the ratio of its final and initial temperatures by writing
T2 p2  2  2 2
  
T1 p1 1 1 1
which shows that the gas’s temperature would also double.
2
 As another example, imagine if a gas’s pressure increases to four times its
original value while keeping a constant temperature. Manipulating Eq. (6)
shows that its volume would decrease to one-fourth its original size,
 2 T2 p1 p1 1
   .
1 T1 p2 p2 4
 As a final example, imagine if a gas’s pressure increases to six times its original
value while the volume decreases to one-fourth its original size. Manipulating
Eq. (6) shows that the temperature increase by 150%,
T2 p2  2 6 1 3
    .
T1 p1 1 1 4 2
INTERNAL ENERGY OF AN IDEAL GAS

 Since there are no intermolecular forces in an ideal gas, there is no internal
potential energy. The internal energy of a monatomic gas is therefore due solely
to the translational kinetic energy of the molecules.
 If the molecules have more than one atom, then there is also kinetic energy due
to rotation and vibration.
 Though technically not an ideal gas, at normal temperatures and pressures
the main atmospheric gasses closely follow the ideal gas law, so we can still
speak of air as an ideal gas.
 The translational kinetic energy has a value of
1 2 1 m 2 3 kT 3 N Ak 3
utrans  v  v   T  RT
2 2m 2 m 2 N Am 2
 The rotational kinetic energy depends on whether the molecule is monatomic

or multi-atomic, and whether it is linear or bent. It is
u rot  0; monatomic molecule
u rot  R T ; linear molecule
3
u rot  R T ; bent molecule
2
3
 The vibrational kinetic energy is a complicated function of temperature. For
light diatomic molecules (such as N2 and O2) it can be considered a constant
except at extremely high temperatures.
 Thus, the internal energies for most monatomic and diatomic molecules are
3
u  u trans  R T  const.; monatomic gas
2
Internal Energy
5
u  u trans  u rot  u vib  R T  const.; diatomic gas
2
 Note that when temperature is 0K, there is still some kinetic energy. Motion
does not cease at absolute zero.
 An important point to notice is that, for an ideal gas, the internal energy is a
function of temperature only.
4
EXERCISES
1. From the ideal gas law pV = nRT, calculate how many molecules are contained in
a cubic centimeter (cm3) of air at a pressure of 1013.25 mb and a temperature of
15 C? (R = 8.3145 J-mol1-K1; NA = 6.022 1023 molecules/mol)
2. How many oxygen molecules are there in a cm3 of air at a pressure of 1013.25 mb
and a temperature of 15 C?
3. The table below gives the molecular weights and volume percentages for the
standard atmosphere. Use them to show that the molecular weight of air is
28.964 g/mol.
Gas M (g/mol) % by volume

N2 28.0134 78.084
O2 31.9988 20.9476
Ar 39.948 0.934
CO2 44.00995 0.0314
4. Show that the specific gas constant for dry air (Rd) is equal to 287.1 J-kg1-K1.
5. Levels of CO2 in the atmosphere have been increasing since the industrial
revolution. Is the specific gas constant for dry air larger or smaller now than it
was in 1800?
6. Explain why moist air is lighter than dry air (at the same pressure and
temperature).

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ESCI 341 – Atmospheric Thermodynamics

Lesson 4 –Ideal Gases

References: An Introduction to Atmospheric Thermodynamics, Tsonis

 R has a value of 8.3145 J-mol1-K1, and n is the number of moles (not

FORM OF IDEAL GAS LAW MOST USED BY METEOROLOGISTS

or equivalently, in terms of specific volume,

USEFUL RELATIONS FOR COMPARING TWO STATES OF AN IDEAL GAS

INTERNAL ENERGY OF AN IDEAL GAS

 The rotational kinetic energy depends on whether the molecule is monatomic

Gas M (g/mol) % by volume

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