Spring 2022 Chemistry 110A

• About the Van der Waal's b parameter.

For the b parameter, I probably over complicated it (or to some point incorrectly treated it). Let us make sure we are on the same page.

To account for the volume occupied by real gas molecules, the Van der Waals equation replaces V/n in the ideal gas law with (Vm - b), where Vm is the molar volume of the gas and b is the volume occupied by the molecules of one mole. -- Wikipedia :-)

So, b cannot be negative, and the larger molar volume the larger b. (Cyclohexane: 108.7 mL/mol > Methanol: 40.5 mL/mol > Argon: 28.5 mL/mol -- stenutz.eu/)