Question

The ratio of molar specific heats of oxygen is

• A. 1.4
• B. 1.67
• C. 1.33
• D. 1.28

Answer 1

The Correct Option is A

The ratio of the molar specific heats, \(\gamma\), for an ideal gas is defined as the ratio of the heat capacity at constant pressure \(C_p\) to the heat capacity at constant volume \(C_v\):\(( \gamma = \frac{C_p}{C_v} )\) 
For diatomic gases like oxygen, the value of \(\gamma\) is typically around 1.4, due to the way the molecules move and store energy in the form of translational, rotational, and vibrational motion. The value reflects the fact that the degrees of freedom for a diatomic molecule lead to an increased specific heat compared to monatomic gases, which only have translational motion.