Which of the following describes the van der Waals equation of state?

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Question: Which of the following describes the van der Waals equation of state?

Option a: 'An equation of state that includes a correction term to account for non-ideal behaviour at high pressures.' This description is broadly accurate for the van der Waals equation, since it introduces correction terms to address deviations from ideal gas behavior at high pressures and for real gases. However, it is somewhat general, because the van der Waals model specifically introduces two corrections: one for finite molecular size and one for intermolecular attractions.

Option b: 'An equation of state that accounts for the finite size and attractive interactions between gas particles.' This option captures two key physical features that the van der Waals equation incorporates: the finite volume occupied by gas molecules (reducing the available space) and the attractive forces between molecules (which reduce the pressure exerted on container walls). This description aligns closely with the core corrections embedded in the van der Waals formulation.

Option c: 'An equation of state that only applies to ideal gases.' This is incorrect. The van der Waals equation is a non-ideal gas model designed precisely to describe deviations from ideal gas behavior, not to describe ideal gases.

Option d: 'An equation of state that describes the behaviour of gases at low temperatures.' This is misleading. While the van der Waals equation can be applied across a range of temperatures, its primary purpose is to account for non-ideal behavior due to molecular size and attractions, which becomes especially important at higher pressures and, in some contexts, near condensation. It is not specifically characterized as a low-temperature model.

In summary, option a emphasizes the non-ideality correction aspect, option b emphasizes the microscopic features of size and attractions, option c incorrectly labels it as describing only ideal gases, and option d mischaracterizes the scope as tied to low temperatures. The van der Waals framework fundamentally blends size exclusion (volume correction) with intermolecular attraction (pressure correction), which is most directly and comprehensively captured by option b, while option a describes a related but broader facet of the non-ideality correction.

PHAS0006_24-25 Quiz for week 2

Which of the following describes the van der Waals equation of state?

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