Final answer:
The specific heat at constant volume of water vapor based on a triatomic non-linear molecule with six degrees of freedom is calculated to be 1385.67 J/kg·K, using the equipartition theorem.
This theoretical value is lower than the actual 2000 J/(kg·K) for water vapor, which could be due to the exclusion of vibrational contributions or non-ideal interactions.
Step-by-step explanation:
Calculation of Specific Heat at Constant Volume of Water Vapor
To estimate the specific heat at constant volume (Cv) of water vapor based on the assumption of a triatomic non-linear molecule possessing three translational and three rotational degrees of freedom, we use the equipartition theorem.
This theorem states that each degree of freedom contributes ½R (where R is the ideal gas constant) to the molar specific heat. As vibrational motion is not considered contributing in this case, the calculation will involve six degrees of freedom: 3 translational and 3 rotational.
The molar specific heat at constant volume for the molecule is given by:
Cv = degrees of freedom × (½R) = 6 × (½ × 8.314 J/mol·K) = 3 × 8.314 J/mol·K = 24.942 J/mol·K
To convert this to specific heat per kilogram, we use the molar mass of water vapor (18.0 g/mol), converting it to kg/mol for proper units:
specific heat at constant volume (Cv) = 24.942 J/mol·K / (0.018 kg/mol) = 1385.67 J/kg·K
This theoretical value is considerably less than the actual specific heat of water vapor at low pressures, which is about 2000 J/(kg·K). Differences could arise due to factors such as the contribution of vibrational modes at higher temperatures or interactions not considered in the ideal gas approximation.