Why do different gases have the same molar volume?

The name of the pictureThe name of the pictureThe name of the pictureClash Royale CLAN TAG#URR8PPP











up vote
6
down vote

favorite
1












Molar volume:




The molar volume, symbol $V_mathrm m$ is the volume occupied by one mole of a substance (chemical element or chemical compound) at a given temperature and pressure.




At S.T.P conditions the molar volume of any ideal gas is $pu22.711 dm^3$. My question is: how can two gases with giant difference in molecular size (say $ceHe$ and $ceFe$) have the same volume, considering that the size difference between them is huge, shouldn't the volume they occupy also be different?



Thanks to @MaxW for pointing out a fault.










share|improve this question









New contributor




Any3nymous user is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.



















  • Most of the volume in a gas is empty space, not atoms.
    – orthocresol♦
    2 days ago






  • 1




    You have the wrong molar volume. Since 1982, STP is defined as a temperature of 273.15 K (0 °C, 32 °F) and an absolute pressure of exactly $10^5$ Pa (100 kPa, 1 bar) which gives a molar volume of $22.711 mathrmdm^3mathrm/mol$.
    – MaxW
    2 days ago







  • 1




    Calculate the average volume containing a single molecule at STP. It's about 36,000 nm3 (cubic nanometers). A single simple molecule (like CO2, SF6, etc) is about 0.03 nm3, meaning that at STP a volume of gas is about 99.9999% empty space. Even if the molecule in question becomes quite large it is still effectively occupying a similarly negligible amount of physical space.
    – J...
    2 days ago














up vote
6
down vote

favorite
1












Molar volume:




The molar volume, symbol $V_mathrm m$ is the volume occupied by one mole of a substance (chemical element or chemical compound) at a given temperature and pressure.




At S.T.P conditions the molar volume of any ideal gas is $pu22.711 dm^3$. My question is: how can two gases with giant difference in molecular size (say $ceHe$ and $ceFe$) have the same volume, considering that the size difference between them is huge, shouldn't the volume they occupy also be different?



Thanks to @MaxW for pointing out a fault.










share|improve this question









New contributor




Any3nymous user is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.



















  • Most of the volume in a gas is empty space, not atoms.
    – orthocresol♦
    2 days ago






  • 1




    You have the wrong molar volume. Since 1982, STP is defined as a temperature of 273.15 K (0 °C, 32 °F) and an absolute pressure of exactly $10^5$ Pa (100 kPa, 1 bar) which gives a molar volume of $22.711 mathrmdm^3mathrm/mol$.
    – MaxW
    2 days ago







  • 1




    Calculate the average volume containing a single molecule at STP. It's about 36,000 nm3 (cubic nanometers). A single simple molecule (like CO2, SF6, etc) is about 0.03 nm3, meaning that at STP a volume of gas is about 99.9999% empty space. Even if the molecule in question becomes quite large it is still effectively occupying a similarly negligible amount of physical space.
    – J...
    2 days ago












up vote
6
down vote

favorite
1









up vote
6
down vote

favorite
1






1





Molar volume:




The molar volume, symbol $V_mathrm m$ is the volume occupied by one mole of a substance (chemical element or chemical compound) at a given temperature and pressure.




At S.T.P conditions the molar volume of any ideal gas is $pu22.711 dm^3$. My question is: how can two gases with giant difference in molecular size (say $ceHe$ and $ceFe$) have the same volume, considering that the size difference between them is huge, shouldn't the volume they occupy also be different?



Thanks to @MaxW for pointing out a fault.










share|improve this question









New contributor




Any3nymous user is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.











Molar volume:




The molar volume, symbol $V_mathrm m$ is the volume occupied by one mole of a substance (chemical element or chemical compound) at a given temperature and pressure.




At S.T.P conditions the molar volume of any ideal gas is $pu22.711 dm^3$. My question is: how can two gases with giant difference in molecular size (say $ceHe$ and $ceFe$) have the same volume, considering that the size difference between them is huge, shouldn't the volume they occupy also be different?



Thanks to @MaxW for pointing out a fault.







physical-chemistry gas-laws






share|improve this question









New contributor




Any3nymous user is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.











share|improve this question









New contributor




Any3nymous user is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.









share|improve this question




share|improve this question








edited 2 days ago









orthocresol♦

35.8k7103209




35.8k7103209






New contributor




Any3nymous user is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.









asked 2 days ago









Any3nymous user

1363




1363




New contributor




Any3nymous user is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.





New contributor





Any3nymous user is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.






Any3nymous user is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.











  • Most of the volume in a gas is empty space, not atoms.
    – orthocresol♦
    2 days ago






  • 1




    You have the wrong molar volume. Since 1982, STP is defined as a temperature of 273.15 K (0 °C, 32 °F) and an absolute pressure of exactly $10^5$ Pa (100 kPa, 1 bar) which gives a molar volume of $22.711 mathrmdm^3mathrm/mol$.
    – MaxW
    2 days ago







  • 1




    Calculate the average volume containing a single molecule at STP. It's about 36,000 nm3 (cubic nanometers). A single simple molecule (like CO2, SF6, etc) is about 0.03 nm3, meaning that at STP a volume of gas is about 99.9999% empty space. Even if the molecule in question becomes quite large it is still effectively occupying a similarly negligible amount of physical space.
    – J...
    2 days ago
















  • Most of the volume in a gas is empty space, not atoms.
    – orthocresol♦
    2 days ago






  • 1




    You have the wrong molar volume. Since 1982, STP is defined as a temperature of 273.15 K (0 °C, 32 °F) and an absolute pressure of exactly $10^5$ Pa (100 kPa, 1 bar) which gives a molar volume of $22.711 mathrmdm^3mathrm/mol$.
    – MaxW
    2 days ago







  • 1




    Calculate the average volume containing a single molecule at STP. It's about 36,000 nm3 (cubic nanometers). A single simple molecule (like CO2, SF6, etc) is about 0.03 nm3, meaning that at STP a volume of gas is about 99.9999% empty space. Even if the molecule in question becomes quite large it is still effectively occupying a similarly negligible amount of physical space.
    – J...
    2 days ago















Most of the volume in a gas is empty space, not atoms.
– orthocresol♦
2 days ago




Most of the volume in a gas is empty space, not atoms.
– orthocresol♦
2 days ago




1




1




You have the wrong molar volume. Since 1982, STP is defined as a temperature of 273.15 K (0 °C, 32 °F) and an absolute pressure of exactly $10^5$ Pa (100 kPa, 1 bar) which gives a molar volume of $22.711 mathrmdm^3mathrm/mol$.
– MaxW
2 days ago





You have the wrong molar volume. Since 1982, STP is defined as a temperature of 273.15 K (0 °C, 32 °F) and an absolute pressure of exactly $10^5$ Pa (100 kPa, 1 bar) which gives a molar volume of $22.711 mathrmdm^3mathrm/mol$.
– MaxW
2 days ago





1




1




Calculate the average volume containing a single molecule at STP. It's about 36,000 nm3 (cubic nanometers). A single simple molecule (like CO2, SF6, etc) is about 0.03 nm3, meaning that at STP a volume of gas is about 99.9999% empty space. Even if the molecule in question becomes quite large it is still effectively occupying a similarly negligible amount of physical space.
– J...
2 days ago




Calculate the average volume containing a single molecule at STP. It's about 36,000 nm3 (cubic nanometers). A single simple molecule (like CO2, SF6, etc) is about 0.03 nm3, meaning that at STP a volume of gas is about 99.9999% empty space. Even if the molecule in question becomes quite large it is still effectively occupying a similarly negligible amount of physical space.
– J...
2 days ago










1 Answer
1






active

oldest

votes

















up vote
8
down vote



accepted










You have the right thought process; if two real gases have different sized molecules, they won't have the same molar volume. The issue is that your statement about gases at STP refers to ideal gases which by assumption are just point particles that only interact via elastic collisions. To get a better sense of the difference that considering the finite size of molecules and their electrostatic interactions can make, you will want to read up on the various real gas models used, such as the Van der Waals, Redlich-Kwong, and Peng-Robinson models.



As a small side note, MaxW is correct that the definition of STP you are using is out of date so the molar volume at STP with the new definition is slightly higher. Its still quite common to see people accidentally continuing to use the old definition, so be on the lookout for that.






share|improve this answer




















  • So, what you are saying is that they don't have same volume? I wasn't aware of the change regarding STP, will read into it as well.
    – Any3nymous user
    2 days ago










  • @Any3nymoususer they would not have the same volume, though in most cases the difference is very small because molecules don't take up a lot of space. The specifics of how much the molecular size matters depends on the model you are using to describe a real gas.
    – Tyberius
    2 days ago










  • Very small doesn't make them equal. Anyhow so lemme see if I understood correctly: The difference although really small (as atoms themselves are small), is there and in most events they won't be equal?
    – Any3nymous user
    2 days ago










  • Can you possibly give a reference read. It'd be great if I could read up on this? Thanks for taking the time to answer
    – Any3nymous user
    2 days ago






  • 1




    @Any3nymoususer remember that ideal gas law is even previous to the periodic table. It was found experimentally, and explains fairly well behaviour of gases. You can wonder about molecules' size, but take that into account i.e all microscopical interpretations come centuries later.
    – santimirandarp
    2 days ago











Your Answer




StackExchange.ifUsing("editor", function ()
return StackExchange.using("mathjaxEditing", function ()
StackExchange.MarkdownEditor.creationCallbacks.add(function (editor, postfix)
StackExchange.mathjaxEditing.prepareWmdForMathJax(editor, postfix, [["$", "$"], ["\\(","\\)"]]);
);
);
, "mathjax-editing");

StackExchange.ready(function()
var channelOptions =
tags: "".split(" "),
id: "431"
;
initTagRenderer("".split(" "), "".split(" "), channelOptions);

StackExchange.using("externalEditor", function()
// Have to fire editor after snippets, if snippets enabled
if (StackExchange.settings.snippets.snippetsEnabled)
StackExchange.using("snippets", function()
createEditor();
);

else
createEditor();

);

function createEditor()
StackExchange.prepareEditor(
heartbeatType: 'answer',
convertImagesToLinks: false,
noModals: false,
showLowRepImageUploadWarning: true,
reputationToPostImages: null,
bindNavPrevention: true,
postfix: "",
onDemand: true,
discardSelector: ".discard-answer"
,immediatelyShowMarkdownHelp:true
);



);






Any3nymous user is a new contributor. Be nice, and check out our Code of Conduct.









 

draft saved


draft discarded


















StackExchange.ready(
function ()
StackExchange.openid.initPostLogin('.new-post-login', 'https%3a%2f%2fchemistry.stackexchange.com%2fquestions%2f101559%2fwhy-do-different-gases-have-the-same-molar-volume%23new-answer', 'question_page');

);

Post as a guest






























1 Answer
1






active

oldest

votes








1 Answer
1






active

oldest

votes









active

oldest

votes






active

oldest

votes








up vote
8
down vote



accepted










You have the right thought process; if two real gases have different sized molecules, they won't have the same molar volume. The issue is that your statement about gases at STP refers to ideal gases which by assumption are just point particles that only interact via elastic collisions. To get a better sense of the difference that considering the finite size of molecules and their electrostatic interactions can make, you will want to read up on the various real gas models used, such as the Van der Waals, Redlich-Kwong, and Peng-Robinson models.



As a small side note, MaxW is correct that the definition of STP you are using is out of date so the molar volume at STP with the new definition is slightly higher. Its still quite common to see people accidentally continuing to use the old definition, so be on the lookout for that.






share|improve this answer




















  • So, what you are saying is that they don't have same volume? I wasn't aware of the change regarding STP, will read into it as well.
    – Any3nymous user
    2 days ago










  • @Any3nymoususer they would not have the same volume, though in most cases the difference is very small because molecules don't take up a lot of space. The specifics of how much the molecular size matters depends on the model you are using to describe a real gas.
    – Tyberius
    2 days ago










  • Very small doesn't make them equal. Anyhow so lemme see if I understood correctly: The difference although really small (as atoms themselves are small), is there and in most events they won't be equal?
    – Any3nymous user
    2 days ago










  • Can you possibly give a reference read. It'd be great if I could read up on this? Thanks for taking the time to answer
    – Any3nymous user
    2 days ago






  • 1




    @Any3nymoususer remember that ideal gas law is even previous to the periodic table. It was found experimentally, and explains fairly well behaviour of gases. You can wonder about molecules' size, but take that into account i.e all microscopical interpretations come centuries later.
    – santimirandarp
    2 days ago















up vote
8
down vote



accepted










You have the right thought process; if two real gases have different sized molecules, they won't have the same molar volume. The issue is that your statement about gases at STP refers to ideal gases which by assumption are just point particles that only interact via elastic collisions. To get a better sense of the difference that considering the finite size of molecules and their electrostatic interactions can make, you will want to read up on the various real gas models used, such as the Van der Waals, Redlich-Kwong, and Peng-Robinson models.



As a small side note, MaxW is correct that the definition of STP you are using is out of date so the molar volume at STP with the new definition is slightly higher. Its still quite common to see people accidentally continuing to use the old definition, so be on the lookout for that.






share|improve this answer




















  • So, what you are saying is that they don't have same volume? I wasn't aware of the change regarding STP, will read into it as well.
    – Any3nymous user
    2 days ago










  • @Any3nymoususer they would not have the same volume, though in most cases the difference is very small because molecules don't take up a lot of space. The specifics of how much the molecular size matters depends on the model you are using to describe a real gas.
    – Tyberius
    2 days ago










  • Very small doesn't make them equal. Anyhow so lemme see if I understood correctly: The difference although really small (as atoms themselves are small), is there and in most events they won't be equal?
    – Any3nymous user
    2 days ago










  • Can you possibly give a reference read. It'd be great if I could read up on this? Thanks for taking the time to answer
    – Any3nymous user
    2 days ago






  • 1




    @Any3nymoususer remember that ideal gas law is even previous to the periodic table. It was found experimentally, and explains fairly well behaviour of gases. You can wonder about molecules' size, but take that into account i.e all microscopical interpretations come centuries later.
    – santimirandarp
    2 days ago













up vote
8
down vote



accepted







up vote
8
down vote



accepted






You have the right thought process; if two real gases have different sized molecules, they won't have the same molar volume. The issue is that your statement about gases at STP refers to ideal gases which by assumption are just point particles that only interact via elastic collisions. To get a better sense of the difference that considering the finite size of molecules and their electrostatic interactions can make, you will want to read up on the various real gas models used, such as the Van der Waals, Redlich-Kwong, and Peng-Robinson models.



As a small side note, MaxW is correct that the definition of STP you are using is out of date so the molar volume at STP with the new definition is slightly higher. Its still quite common to see people accidentally continuing to use the old definition, so be on the lookout for that.






share|improve this answer












You have the right thought process; if two real gases have different sized molecules, they won't have the same molar volume. The issue is that your statement about gases at STP refers to ideal gases which by assumption are just point particles that only interact via elastic collisions. To get a better sense of the difference that considering the finite size of molecules and their electrostatic interactions can make, you will want to read up on the various real gas models used, such as the Van der Waals, Redlich-Kwong, and Peng-Robinson models.



As a small side note, MaxW is correct that the definition of STP you are using is out of date so the molar volume at STP with the new definition is slightly higher. Its still quite common to see people accidentally continuing to use the old definition, so be on the lookout for that.







share|improve this answer












share|improve this answer



share|improve this answer










answered 2 days ago









Tyberius

6,15231756




6,15231756











  • So, what you are saying is that they don't have same volume? I wasn't aware of the change regarding STP, will read into it as well.
    – Any3nymous user
    2 days ago










  • @Any3nymoususer they would not have the same volume, though in most cases the difference is very small because molecules don't take up a lot of space. The specifics of how much the molecular size matters depends on the model you are using to describe a real gas.
    – Tyberius
    2 days ago










  • Very small doesn't make them equal. Anyhow so lemme see if I understood correctly: The difference although really small (as atoms themselves are small), is there and in most events they won't be equal?
    – Any3nymous user
    2 days ago










  • Can you possibly give a reference read. It'd be great if I could read up on this? Thanks for taking the time to answer
    – Any3nymous user
    2 days ago






  • 1




    @Any3nymoususer remember that ideal gas law is even previous to the periodic table. It was found experimentally, and explains fairly well behaviour of gases. You can wonder about molecules' size, but take that into account i.e all microscopical interpretations come centuries later.
    – santimirandarp
    2 days ago

















  • So, what you are saying is that they don't have same volume? I wasn't aware of the change regarding STP, will read into it as well.
    – Any3nymous user
    2 days ago










  • @Any3nymoususer they would not have the same volume, though in most cases the difference is very small because molecules don't take up a lot of space. The specifics of how much the molecular size matters depends on the model you are using to describe a real gas.
    – Tyberius
    2 days ago










  • Very small doesn't make them equal. Anyhow so lemme see if I understood correctly: The difference although really small (as atoms themselves are small), is there and in most events they won't be equal?
    – Any3nymous user
    2 days ago










  • Can you possibly give a reference read. It'd be great if I could read up on this? Thanks for taking the time to answer
    – Any3nymous user
    2 days ago






  • 1




    @Any3nymoususer remember that ideal gas law is even previous to the periodic table. It was found experimentally, and explains fairly well behaviour of gases. You can wonder about molecules' size, but take that into account i.e all microscopical interpretations come centuries later.
    – santimirandarp
    2 days ago
















So, what you are saying is that they don't have same volume? I wasn't aware of the change regarding STP, will read into it as well.
– Any3nymous user
2 days ago




So, what you are saying is that they don't have same volume? I wasn't aware of the change regarding STP, will read into it as well.
– Any3nymous user
2 days ago












@Any3nymoususer they would not have the same volume, though in most cases the difference is very small because molecules don't take up a lot of space. The specifics of how much the molecular size matters depends on the model you are using to describe a real gas.
– Tyberius
2 days ago




@Any3nymoususer they would not have the same volume, though in most cases the difference is very small because molecules don't take up a lot of space. The specifics of how much the molecular size matters depends on the model you are using to describe a real gas.
– Tyberius
2 days ago












Very small doesn't make them equal. Anyhow so lemme see if I understood correctly: The difference although really small (as atoms themselves are small), is there and in most events they won't be equal?
– Any3nymous user
2 days ago




Very small doesn't make them equal. Anyhow so lemme see if I understood correctly: The difference although really small (as atoms themselves are small), is there and in most events they won't be equal?
– Any3nymous user
2 days ago












Can you possibly give a reference read. It'd be great if I could read up on this? Thanks for taking the time to answer
– Any3nymous user
2 days ago




Can you possibly give a reference read. It'd be great if I could read up on this? Thanks for taking the time to answer
– Any3nymous user
2 days ago




1




1




@Any3nymoususer remember that ideal gas law is even previous to the periodic table. It was found experimentally, and explains fairly well behaviour of gases. You can wonder about molecules' size, but take that into account i.e all microscopical interpretations come centuries later.
– santimirandarp
2 days ago





@Any3nymoususer remember that ideal gas law is even previous to the periodic table. It was found experimentally, and explains fairly well behaviour of gases. You can wonder about molecules' size, but take that into account i.e all microscopical interpretations come centuries later.
– santimirandarp
2 days ago











Any3nymous user is a new contributor. Be nice, and check out our Code of Conduct.









 

draft saved


draft discarded


















Any3nymous user is a new contributor. Be nice, and check out our Code of Conduct.












Any3nymous user is a new contributor. Be nice, and check out our Code of Conduct.











Any3nymous user is a new contributor. Be nice, and check out our Code of Conduct.













 


draft saved


draft discarded














StackExchange.ready(
function ()
StackExchange.openid.initPostLogin('.new-post-login', 'https%3a%2f%2fchemistry.stackexchange.com%2fquestions%2f101559%2fwhy-do-different-gases-have-the-same-molar-volume%23new-answer', 'question_page');

);

Post as a guest













































































Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Long meetings (6-7 hours a day): Being “babysat” by supervisor

Is the Concept of Multiple Fantasy Races Scientifically Flawed? [closed]

Confectionery