AP Chemistry Flashcards: Deviation from Ideal Gas Law
Written by AP Content Team, Verified for 2026 AP Exams, Last updated: May 2026
Review key ideas with interactive flashcards. This set includes 10 cards to help you master important concepts.
Which assumption of the ideal gas law is invalidated by the behavior of real gases at very high pressures?
At very high pressures, the assumption that the volume of individual gas particles is negligible compared to the volume of the container is invalidated.
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Which assumption of the ideal gas law is invalidated by the behavior of real gases at very high pressures?
At very high pressures, the assumption that the volume of individual gas particles is negligible compared to the volume of the container is invalidated.
What are the two main factors that cause real gases to deviate from the ideal gas law?
Deviations result from interparticle attractions (especially near condensation) and from the volume of the gas particles themselves (especially at very high pressures).
Which assumption of the ideal gas law is invalidated by the behavior of real gases near their condensation point?
Near the condensation point, the assumption that there are no attractive forces between gas particles is invalidated.
A real gas is cooled to just above its condensation point. Which factor is primarily responsible for its non-ideal behavior?
Near its condensation point, the primary factor responsible for a gas's non-ideal behavior is the increasing effect of interparticle attractions.
Under what condition does the volume of gas particles cause significant deviation from ideal behavior?
The volume of gas particles causes significant deviation from the ideal gas law at very high pressures, when the particle volume is no longer negligible compared to the container volume.
Explain the relationship between particle volumes and non-ideal gas behavior.
At high pressures, the volume occupied by the particles themselves reduces the available space for movement, causing the observed pressure to be higher than predicted by the ideal gas law.
A real gas is compressed to a very high pressure. Which factor, interparticle forces or particle volumes, is the primary reason for its deviation from the ideal gas law?
At very high pressures, the primary reason for deviation from the ideal gas law is the significant volume of the gas particles themselves.
Under what condition do interparticle attractions cause significant deviation from ideal behavior?
Interparticle attractions cause significant deviation from the ideal gas law near the condensation point of the gas, where particles are closer together and moving more slowly.
Define non-ideal gas behavior.
Non-ideal gas behavior is the deviation of a real gas from the relationships predicted by the ideal gas law, caused by the real-world effects of interparticle forces and particle volumes.
Explain the relationship between interparticle forces and non-ideal gas behavior.
As interparticle attractive forces become more significant (at lower temperatures), they pull gas molecules together, causing the observed pressure to be lower than predicted by the ideal gas law.