Prev. Article Next Article Table of Contents

Article

Virial Coefficients Using Different Equations of State

Your current credentials do not allow retrieval of the full text.

Purchase the full-text

PDF/HTML,
figures/images,
references and tables,
(where available)

Charles B. Wakefield and Constance Phillips

Department of Science, Mathematics and Computer Science, University of Texas of the Permian Basin, Odessa, TX 79762

J. Chem. Educ., 2000, 77 (10), p 1371

DOI: 10.1021/ed077p1371

Publication Date (Web): October 1, 2000

Section:

History, Education, and Documentation

Abstract

Inexpensive desktop computers and powerful computer algebra software packages have made it possible for students and faculty to look at problems unthinkable a few years past because of the intensive algebra involved. One such problem is the derivation of expressions for the first three virial coefficients when using different equations of state. Using Mathematica, expressions for the virial coefficients at constant volume, constant pressure, and the fugacity have been derived for several equations of state. The results of these calculations are shown in two plots with experimental data. These plots serve as a check on the validity of the expressions derived using Mathematica. Our purpose is to illustrate the actual Mathematica instructions that lead to the virial coefficients for the well-known van der Waals equation of state. The set of Mathematica instructions for this equation of state will serve as a model for other more sophisticated equations of state. In our study we selected the Redlich-Kwong and the Gibbons, Laughton modification to the Redlich-Kwon equations of state.