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UPSC Civil Services (Mains)

Chemistry optional

  • 2 papers
  • 250 marks each
  • 3 h per paper
  • 5 of 8 questions, Q1 and Q5 compulsory

Paper I covers physical and inorganic chemistry.

UPSC Civil Services (Mains), Chemistry optional · 2021 · Paper I

Q4(b)(ii). van der Waals constants of NO and CCl₄; nearness to ideal behaviour

Question

The critical temperature and pressure for NO gas are 177 K and 64 atm, respectively, and for CCl₄, they are 550 K and 45 atm, respectively. Which gas has the smaller values of the van der Waals' constants, a and b? Which is the most nearly ideal in behaviour at 300 K and 10 atm?

Answer in brief

NO has the smaller a (1.39 against 19.1 L² atm mol⁻²) and smaller b (0.0284 against 0.125 L mol⁻¹), and it is the most nearly ideal at 300 K and 10 atm (Z = 0.989), while CCl₄ is a liquid.

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Coversvan der Waals constantscritical constantscompression factorreduced temperaturelaw of corresponding states

All parts of Question 4