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Chapter 5: Problem 9

What is the difference between a gas and a vapor? At \(25^{\circ} \mathrm{C},\) which of the following substances in the gas phase should be properly called a gas and which should be called a vapor: molecular nitrogen \(\left(\mathrm{N}_{2}\right),\) mercury?

Short Answer

Expert verified
Molecular nitrogen (\(\mathrm{N}_{2}\)) at \(25^{\circ} \mathrm{C}\) would be correctly termed a 'gas', while mercury would be termed a 'vapor' under the same conditions.

Step by step solution

01

Defining Gas and Vapor

A 'gas' refers to a substance that is naturally in the gaseous state at standard room temperature and pressure. A 'vapor', on the other hand, is the term used for a substance that is usually in the solid or liquid state at room temperature but has been converted into gas. Now, let's apply this knowledge to our two substances.
02

Identifying Molecular Nitrogen (\(\mathrm{N}_{2}\))

Molecular nitrogen (\(\mathrm{N}_{2}\)) is a gas at room temperature (\(25^{\circ} \mathrm{C}\)). Since it is already in the gaseous state under these conditions, it should be correctly termed as a 'gas'.
03

Identifying Mercury

Mercury, on the other hand, is naturally in a liquid state at room temperature (\(25^{\circ} \mathrm{C}\)). If it were in the gaseous state under these conditions, it would be referred to as a 'vapor' since it needed to change from its usual state (in this case, liquid) to achieve a gaseous form.

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Most popular questions from this chapter

Molecular chlorine and molecular fluorine combine to form a gaseous product. Under the same conditions of temperature and pressure it is found that one volume of \(\mathrm{Cl}_{2}\) reacts with three volumes of \(\mathrm{F}_{2}\) to yield two volumes of the product. What is the formula of the product?

The ozone molecules present in the stratosphere absorb much of the harmful radiation from the sun. Typically, the temperature and pressure of ozone in the stratosphere are \(250 \mathrm{~K}\) and \(1.0 \times 10^{-3} \mathrm{~atm},\) respectively. How many ozone molecules are present in \(1.0 \mathrm{~L}\) of air under these conditions?

In the metallurgical process of refining nickel, the metal is first combined with carbon monoxide to form tetracarbonylnickel, which is a gas at \(43^{\circ} \mathrm{C}\) : $$\mathrm{Ni}(s)+4 \mathrm{CO}(g) \longrightarrow \mathrm{Ni}(\mathrm{CO})_{4}(g)$$ This reaction separates nickel from other solid impurities. (a) Starting with \(86.4 \mathrm{~g}\) of \(\mathrm{Ni}\), calculate the pressure of \(\mathrm{Ni}(\mathrm{CO})_{4}\) in a container of volume \(4.00 \mathrm{~L}\). (Assume the above reaction goes to completion.) (b) On further heating the sample above \(43^{\circ} \mathrm{C}\), it is observed that the pressure of the gas increases much more rapidly than predicted based on the ideal gas equation. Explain.

A barometer having a cross-sectional area of \(1.00 \mathrm{~cm}^{2}\) at sea level measures a pressure of \(76.0 \mathrm{~cm}\) of mercury. The pressure exerted by this column of mercury is equal to the pressure exerted by all the air on \(1 \mathrm{~cm}^{2}\) of Earth's surface. Given that the density of mercury is \(13.6 \mathrm{~g} / \mathrm{mL},\) and the average radius of Earth is \(6371 \mathrm{~km}\), calculate the total mass of Earth's atmosphere in kilograms.

The partial pressure of carbon dioxide varies with seasons. Would you expect the partial pressure in the Northern Hemisphere to be higher in the summer or winter? Explain.
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