Final answer:
The percent difference in pressures calculated using the van der Waals equation and ideal gas equation is greater in the 4.20 L vessel compared to the 16.10 L vessel due to the smaller molecular volume of the gas.
Step-by-step explanation:
The percent difference in the pressures calculated using the two different equations is greater when the gas is in the 4.20 L vessel compared to the 16.10 L vessel because the molecular volume is a smaller part of the total volume in the 4.20 L vessel. The van der Waals equation of state takes into account the molecular volume and attractive forces between molecules, which become a greater factor at higher pressure and smaller volume. Therefore, when the volume is smaller, these molecular interactions have a bigger impact on the overall pressure calculation.