What are some common mistakes students make with the molar volume of a gas?

1 Answer
Oct 8, 2015

#V_m = V/n = (RT)/P#.

Explanation:

Choice of #R#, the gas constant with the appropriate units, is an error I still am prone to make (hopefully not here). The choice of units does not help. Litres would reasonably be the most useful choicefor the practising chemist . The gas constant is #??#.

#R# = #0.0821# #(L*atm)/(mol*K)#.

Of course, the pressure might not be quoted in atmospheres, but in kilopascals, and so, #R# #=# #8.31 *J*mol^(-1) K^(-1)#. It is hard to convert this dimensionally to units of pressure.