Question

The ideal gas equation is given by \( PV = nRT \). Which of the following statements is correct for an ideal gas?

Hint:

The ideal gas law is an approximation. It works best at high temperatures and low pressures, where intermolecular forces are less significant.

Answer 1

The ideal gas equation \( PV = nRT \) is an approximation that assumes the gas molecules do not interact with each other and that their volume is negligible compared to the volume of the container. This equation is most accurate under conditions of high temperature and low pressure because, under these conditions, the gas molecules are far apart, and intermolecular forces (such as attraction or repulsion) are negligible. At low temperatures and high pressures, real gases deviate from ideal behavior due to intermolecular forces and the finite volume of gas molecules.