Question

The Dutch scientist Johannes van der Waals developed a useful equation to predict the behavior of real gases. In the van der Waals equation, what are the constants a and b, respectively?

a. a is a measure of how strongly the gas molecules attract one another, and b is a measure of the finite volume occupied by the molecules.
b. a is a measure of the random motion of gas molecules, and b is a measure of the volume of the container.
c. a is a measure of the finite volume occupied by the molecules, and b is a measure of how strongly the gas molecules attract one another.
d. a is a measure of the molecular mass of the gas molecules, and b is a measure of the finite volume occupied by the molecules.

Answer 1

Step-by-step explanation:

The higher the value of a, the greater the attraction between molecules and the more easily the gas will compress.

The b term represents the excluded volume of the gas or the volume occupied by the gas particles.