Pressure-Volume isotherms of Carbon dioxide

Pressure-Volume isotherms of Carbon dioxide

Andrew's isotherm

Thomas Andrew gave the first complete data on pressure-volume-temperature of a substance in the gaseous and liquid states. He plotted isotherms of carbon dioxide at different temperatures which is shown in Figure. 6.12. From the plots we can infer the following.

At low temperature isotherms, for example, at 130 C as the pressure increases, the volume decreases along AB and is a gas until the point B is reached. At B, a liquid separates along the line BC, both the liquid and gas co-exist and the pressure remains constant. At C, the gas is completely converted into liquid. If the pressure is higher than at C, only the liquid is compressed so, there is no significant change in the volume. The successive isotherms shows similar trend with the shorter flat region. i.e. The volume range in which the liquid and gas coexist becomes shorter. At the temperature of 31.1 0C the length of the shorter portion is reduced to zero at point P. In other words, the CO₂ gas is liquefied completely at this point. This temperature is known as the liquefaction temperature or critical temperature of CO₂. At this point the pressure is 73 atm. Above this temperature CO₂ remains as a gas at all pressure values. It is then proved that many real gases behave in a similar manner to carbon dioxide.

Though the nature of isotherm remains similar, the critical temperature, the corresponding pressure and volume are characteristics of a particular gas. 

Now we can define the critical constants as follows. Critical temperature (T_c) of a gas is defined as the temperature above which it cannot be liquefied even at high pressure. Critical pressure (P_c) of a gas is defined as the minimum pressure required to liquefy 1 mole of a gas at its critical temperature. Critical volume (V_c) is defined as the volume occupied by 1 mole of a gas at its critical temperature and critical pressure. The critical constants of some common gases are given in Table 6.2

Derivation of critical constants from van der Waals constant:

The van der Waals equation for n moles is

From the equation we can derive the values of critical constants P_c, V_c and T_c in terms of a and b, the van der Waals constants, On expanding the above equation

When the above equation is rearranged in powers of V

The equation (6.26) is a cubic equation in V. On solving this equation, we will get three solutions. At the critical point all these three solutions of V are equal to the critical volume V_C. The pressure and temperature becomes P_c and T_c respectively

V = V_C

V – V_C = 0

(V – V_C)³ = 0

V³ - 3V_CV³ + 3V_C²V - V_C³ = 0 .......(6.27)

As equation (6.26) is identical with equation (6.27), we can equate the coefficients of V², V and constant terms in (6.26) and (6.27).

i.e. V_C = 3b -------   (6.31)

when equation (6.31) is substituted in (6.29)

substituting the values of V_c and P_c in equation (6.28),

The critical constants can be calculated using the values of van der waals constant of a gas and vice versa.