My teacher is going to list the molar masses of five gases and ask us which has the largest molar volume at STP. How would I go about solving this?
To determine which gas has the largest molar volume at STP (Standard Temperature and Pressure), you need to understand the concept of molar volume and how it relates to the molar mass of a gas.
Molar volume is defined as the volume occupied by one mole of a gas at a specific temperature and pressure. At STP, the conditions are defined as 0 degrees Celsius (273.15 Kelvin) and 1 atmosphere of pressure.
To answer your teacher's question, you will have to compare the molar masses of the five gases and determine which one has the lowest molar mass. The gas with the lowest molar mass will have the largest molar volume at STP. This is because molar volume is inversely proportional to molar mass.
Here's how you can solve the problem step-by-step:
1. Obtain the molar masses of the five gases from your teacher. Make sure they are given in grams per mole (g/mol).
2. Calculate the molar volume of each gas. The molar volume can be calculated using the ideal gas law equation, which is:
V = (RT) / P
Where:
V is the molar volume (in liters),
R is the ideal gas constant (0.0821 L·atm/(mol·K)),
T is the temperature in Kelvin (273.15 K for STP), and
P is the pressure in atmospheres (1 atm for STP).
Plug in the values of R, T, and P, and then divide the result by the molar mass (in grams/mole) to find the molar volume for each gas.
3. Compare the calculated molar volumes for the five gases. The gas with the largest calculated molar volume will have the largest molar volume at STP.
Remember, the key factor in determining the largest molar volume is the molar mass of the gas. Lower molar mass means larger molar volume at STP.
By following these steps, you should be able to solve the problem and identify which gas has the largest molar volume at STP.