1. What is the Gas Constant?

The gas constant (R) is a fundamental physical constant that appears in the ideal gas law, relating the energy scale to the temperature scale in physics. It has a value of approximately 0.08206 L·atm/mol·K.

2. How Does the Calculator Work?

The calculator uses the ideal gas law equation:

Where:

• \( R \) — Gas constant (L·atm/mol·K)
• \( P \) — Pressure (atm)
• \( V \) — Volume (L)
• \( n \) — Amount of substance (mol)
• \( T \) — Temperature (K)

Explanation: The equation relates the four variables that describe the state of a gas to the universal gas constant.

3. Importance of the Gas Constant

Details: The gas constant is crucial in thermodynamics, physical chemistry, and engineering calculations involving gases. It connects the microscopic and macroscopic properties of gases.

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Enter pressure in atm, volume in liters, amount in moles, and temperature in Kelvin. All values must be positive numbers.

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: What is the accepted value of the gas constant?
A: The accepted value is 0.082057366080960 L·atm/mol·K (exact value as defined by NIST).

Q2: Can this calculator be used for real gases?
A: This calculates the ideal gas constant. For real gases, more complex equations like Van der Waals equation are needed.

Q3: Why is temperature required in Kelvin?
A: The gas constant is defined using the Kelvin scale, which is an absolute temperature scale.

Q4: What are common units for the gas constant?
A: Common units include L·atm/mol·K, J/mol·K, and cm³·bar/mol·K. This calculator uses L·atm/mol·K.

Q5: How precise is this calculation?
A: The precision depends on your input measurements. The calculator shows 6 decimal places for comparison with standard values.