States of Matter

1. Introduction

Matter exists in three primary states: Solid, Liquid, and Gas. The state depends on the balance between:

  • Intermolecular Forces: Tend to keep molecules together (Cohesive forces).
  • Thermal Energy: Tends to keep molecules apart (Random motion).
Gas: Weakest forces, Highest thermal energy.
Liquid: Intermediate forces.
Solid: Strongest forces, Lowest thermal energy.

2. The Gaseous State

2.1 Gas Laws

1. Boyle's Law (P-V Relation):

At constant T, Pressure is inversely proportional to Volume.

P ∝ 1/V   or   P1V1 = P2V2
2. Charles' Law (V-T Relation):

At constant P, Volume is directly proportional to Absolute Temperature.

V ∝ T   or   V1/T1 = V2/T2
3. Gay-Lussac's Law (P-T Relation):

At constant V, Pressure is directly proportional to Absolute Temperature.

P ∝ T   or   P1/T1 = P2/T2
4. Avogadro's Law (V-n Relation):

Equal volumes of all gases at same T and P contain equal number of moles.

V ∝ n
Gas Laws Graphs

2.2 Ideal Gas Equation

PV = nRT

R (Universal Gas Constant):
• 8.314 J K-1 mol-1 (SI Units)
• 0.0821 L atm K-1 mol-1 (Common for Pressure/Volume)
• 2 cal K-1 mol-1 (CGS)

3. Kinetic Theory of Gases (KTG)

Key Assumptions

  • Gases consist of large number of identical particles (atoms/molecules).
  • Volume of molecules is negligible compared to container volume.
  • No force of attraction or repulsion between molecules.
  • Collisions are perfectly elastic.

Pressure Equation

P = (1/3) ρ vrms2

4. Molecular Speeds

Maxwell-Boltzmann distribution defines three types of speeds:

1. Root Mean Square (Vrms):
√(3RT / M)
2. Average Speed (Vavg):
√(8RT / πM)
3. Most Probable Speed (Vmp):
√(2RT / M)
Ratio: Vmp : Vavg : Vrms :: 1 : 1.128 : 1.224

5. Real Gases

Real gases deviate from ideal behavior at High Pressure and Low Temperature.

Compressibility Factor (Z)

Z = PV / nRT
  • Z = 1 (Ideal Gas)
  • Z < 1 (Negative Deviation, Attractive forces dominate)
  • Z > 1 (Positive Deviation, Repulsive forces dominate)
[Image of Compressibility factor Z vs Pressure graph]Compressibility Factor Graph

Van der Waals Equation

(P + an2/V2) (V - nb) = nRT

'a': Measure of intermolecular attraction (Unit: atm L2 mol-2).
'b': Measure of effective size of molecule (Unit: L mol-1).

6. Critical Constants

  • Critical Temp (Tc): 8a / 27Rb (Gas cannot be liquefied above this T).
  • Critical Pressure (Pc): a / 27b2.
  • Critical Volume (Vc): 3b.

7. Liquid Properties

7.1 Surface Tension (γ)

Force acting per unit length perpendicular to the line drawn on the surface.

γ = Force / Length

Causes drops to be spherical (Minimizing surface area).

Excess Pressure:
Liquid Drop: Pex = 2γ / r
Soap Bubble: Pex = 4γ / r

7.2 Viscosity (η)

Internal resistance to flow.

F = η A (dv/dx)

Depends on temperature (Liquids: T↑ η↓; Gases: T↑ η↑).

7.3 Capillarity

Rise or fall of liquid in a narrow tube.

h = (2γ cosθ) / (r ρ g)

(θ = Contact angle)

Capillarity

Numericals & HOTS

Q1. Density Calculation

Calculate the density of CO2 gas at 27°C and 2 atm pressure. (R = 0.0821 L atm K-1 mol-1)

Solution:
Formula: d = PM / RT
Molar Mass (M) of CO2 = 44 g/mol
T = 27 + 273 = 300 K
P = 2 atm

d = (2 × 44) / (0.0821 × 300)
d = 88 / 24.63
d = 3.57 g/L
Q2. Bubble Expansion (Combined Law)

An air bubble of volume 1.0 mL rises from the bottom of a lake 40 m deep at a temperature of 12°C. To what volume does it grow when it reaches the surface, which is at 35°C? (1 atm = 10 m of water column).

Solution:
At Bottom (State 1):
Depth = 40m. Pressure P1 = Patm + 40m water.
Since 10m water = 1 atm, 40m = 4 atm.
P1 = 1 atm (surface) + 4 atm = 5 atm.
V1 = 1 mL, T1 = 12+273 = 285 K.

At Surface (State 2):
P2 = 1 atm.
T2 = 35+273 = 308 K.

Formula: P1V1/T1 = P2V2/T2
(5 × 1) / 285 = (1 × V2) / 308
V2 = (5 × 308) / 285
V2 = 5.4 mL
Q3. Diffusion Ratio

Find the ratio of the rate of diffusion of Hydrogen (H2) to that of Oxygen (O2).

Solution:
Molar Mass H2 = 2 g/mol
Molar Mass O2 = 32 g/mol

Formula: rH2 / rO2 = √(MO2 / MH2)
Ratio = √(32 / 2)
Ratio = √16 = 4
Answer: 4:1
Q4. RMS Speed (Unit Trap)

Calculate the root mean square speed (Vrms) of Oxygen molecules at 27°C. (R = 8.314 J K-1 mol-1)

Solution:
Trap: Molar mass must be in kg/mol for SI units.
M(O2) = 32 g/mol = 0.032 kg/mol.
T = 300 K.

Vrms = √(3RT / M)
Vrms = √(3 × 8.314 × 300 / 0.032)
Vrms = √(7482.6 / 0.032)
Vrms = √(233831)
Vrms = 483.5 m/s
Q5. Kinetic Energy Concept

Calculate the ratio of average Kinetic Energy of 1 mole of H2 and 1 mole of CH4 at 27°C.

Solution:
Average K.E. per mole = (3/2) RT.
It depends ONLY on Temperature, not on Molar Mass or nature of gas.
Since T is same (300 K) for both:
Ratio = 1:1
Q6. Partial Pressure

A mixture contains 16g of O2 and 20g of Ne. Total pressure is 10 atm. Calculate the partial pressure of O2. (Molar mass Ne = 20)

Solution:
Moles O2 = 16/32 = 0.5 mol.
Moles Ne = 20/20 = 1.0 mol.
Total Moles = 1.5 mol.

Mole Fraction of O2 (XO2) = 0.5 / 1.5 = 1/3.

PO2 = XO2 × Ptotal
PO2 = (1/3) × 10
PO2 = 3.33 atm
Q7. Van der Waals (HOTS)

Calculate the pressure exerted by 1 mole of methane (CH4) in a 0.25 L container at 300K using Van der Waals equation. Given: a = 2.25 L2 atm mol-2, b = 0.04 L mol-1.

Solution:
Formula: (P + an2/V2)(V - nb) = nRT

Step 1: RT = 0.0821 × 300 = 24.63
Step 2: (V - nb) = 0.25 - 0.04 = 0.21 L
Step 3: an2/V2 = 2.25(1)2 / (0.25)2 = 2.25 / 0.0625 = 36 atm

(P + 36)(0.21) = 24.63
P + 36 = 24.63 / 0.21 = 117.28
P = 117.28 - 36
P = 81.28 atm
Q8. Nature of Gas (Z)

At 500 atm and 300 K, the density of a gas (M=28) is 0.7 g/mL. What is the value of Compressibility Factor (Z)?

Solution:
Ideal density dideal = PM / RT
dideal = (500 × 28) / (0.0821 × 300)
dideal = 14000 / 24.63 = 568.4 g/L = 0.568 g/mL.

Real density dreal = 0.7 g/mL.
Z = dideal / dreal (since Vreal < Videal)
Wait, simpler way: Z = PV / nRT = P(M/d) / RT
Z = P M / (d RT)
Z = (500 × 28) / (700 g/L × 0.0821 × 300)
Z = 14000 / 17241
Z = 0.81 (Attractive forces dominate)
Q9. Soap Bubble Pressure

Calculate the excess pressure inside a soap bubble of radius 2 mm if surface tension of soap solution is 0.03 N/m.

Solution:
For soap bubble (2 surfaces), Pex = 4γ / r.
γ = 0.03 N/m.
r = 2 mm = 2 × 10-3 m.

Pex = (4 × 0.03) / (2 × 10-3)
Pex = 0.12 / 0.002
Pex = 60 Pa
Q10. Capillary Rise Ratio

Two capillaries of radii r1 and r2 are dipped in the same liquid. If r1 = 2r2, calculate the ratio of heights h1 : h2.

Solution:
Capillary rise formula: h = 2γcosθ / (rρg)
Thus, h ∝ 1/r (assuming same liquid).

h1 / h2 = r2 / r1
Given r1 = 2r2
h1 / h2 = r2 / (2r2) = 1/2
Ratio = 1:2

Important Formulae

1. Ideal Gas Laws

Ideal Gas Equation:

PV = nRT = (w/M)RT

Density Form:

d = PM / RT

Combined Gas Law:

P1V1 / T1 = P2V2 / T2
2. Mixtures & Diffusion

Dalton's Law of Partial Pressure:

Ptotal = PA + PB + ...
PA = xA × Ptotal

Graham's Law of Diffusion:

r ∝ 1 / √M   or   r ∝ 1 / √d
r1/r2 = √(M2/M1)
3. Molecular Speeds (KTG)
  • Vrms: √(3RT/M) = √(3PV/M)
  • Vavg: √(8RT/πM)
  • Vmp: √(2RT/M)
Vmp < Vavg < Vrms
4. Real Gases (Van der Waals)
(P + an2/V2) (V - nb) = nRT
Critical Temp (Tc)Critical Pressure (Pc)Critical Vol (Vc)
8a / 27Rba / 27b23b

Boyle Temp (TB): a / Rb

5. Surface Tension & Viscosity

Capillary Rise:

h = (2γ cosθ) / (r ρ g)

Viscous Force:

F = η A (dv/dx)

20 Golden Facts (NEET)

  • 1. Kinetic Energy: The average kinetic energy of gas molecules depends ONLY on absolute temperature. K.E. ∝ T. It is independent of the nature of the gas.
  • 2. Unit of 'a': The Van der Waals constant 'a' represents attractive forces. Unit: atm L2 mol-2. Higher 'a' means easier liquefaction (e.g., NH3 > N2).
  • 3. Unit of 'b': The constant 'b' represents excluded volume (size). Unit: L mol-1. Value is 4 times the actual volume of molecules ($b = 4 \times V_m$).
  • 4. Z at Low Pressure: For real gases at low pressure, attractive forces dominate. Z < 1. Equation becomes: Z = 1 - a/(VRT).
  • 5. Z at High Pressure: Repulsive forces dominate. Z > 1. Equation becomes: Z = 1 + Pb/RT.
  • 6. H2 and He Exception: Hydrogen and Helium show Z > 1 at almost all conditions because their intermolecular attraction ('a') is negligible.
  • 7. Dalton's Condition: Dalton's Law of Partial Pressure is applicable ONLY for non-reacting gases. (e.g., N2 + O2 is valid, but NH3 + HCl is invalid as they form solid NH4Cl).
  • 8. Wet vs Dry Gas: Pdry gas = Ptotal - Aqueous Tension (Vapor pressure of water). Always subtract aq. tension in numericals.
  • 9. Boiling Point vs Pressure: Boiling occurs when Vapor Pressure = External Pressure. On mountains (low P), B.P. decreases (cooking takes longer). In pressure cookers (high P), B.P. increases.
  • 10. Mean Free Path (λ): Distance traveled between two collisions. $\lambda \propto T/P$. Decreases with high pressure.
  • 11. Surface Tension vs Temp: Surface tension decreases as temperature increases (Hot soup tastes better because it spreads easily on the tongue).
  • 12. Viscosity vs Temp: Viscosity of liquids decreases with Temp, but viscosity of GASES increases with Temp (due to increased collision randomness).
  • 13. Absolute Zero: At -273.15°C (0 K), the volume of an ideal gas theoretically becomes zero, and molecular motion ceases.
  • 14. Diffusion Rate: Lighter gases diffuse faster. Rate of diffusion of H2 is 4 times that of O2 (since Mass is 1/16th).
  • 15. Falling Drops: Raindrops are spherical due to Surface Tension (minimizing surface area/energy).
  • 16. Compressibility Factor Z: At the Critical Point, Z = 3/8 (approx 0.375) for a Van der Waals gas.
  • 17. Laminar Flow: In streamline flow of liquids, the velocity is maximum at the center of the tube and minimum (zero) at the walls.
  • 18. Units of R: In energy calculations (K.E., work), use R = 8.314 J. In Equation of State (PV=nRT), use R = 0.0821 L atm.
  • 19. Avogadro's Hypothesis: The density of a gas is directly proportional to its molar mass at constant T and P ($d \propto M$).
  • 20. Capillary Action: If cohesive forces (liquid-liquid) > adhesive forces (liquid-solid), the liquid will fall (convex meniscus, e.g., Mercury). If adhesive > cohesive, it rises (concave meniscus, e.g., Water).
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