There are many differences between ideal gas and real gas; some of the main differences are as following:
- An ideal gas follows the formula PV=nRT but a real gas does not always follow this formula.
- There is no attraction between the molecules of an ideal gas. A real gas has significant particle attractions.
- The particles of an ideal gas lose no energy to its container. A real gas conducts and radiates heat, thereby losing energy.
- An ideal gas is infinitely compressible, a real gas will condense to a liquid at some pressure.
- Real gas particles have a volume and ideal gas particles do not.
- Real gas particles collide in-elastically (loses energy with collisions) and ideal gas particles collide elastically.