1. What is the Gas Constant?

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

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 state variables of an ideal gas (pressure, volume, temperature, and amount of substance) through the gas constant.

3. Importance of the Gas Constant

Details: The gas constant is fundamental in thermodynamics, physical chemistry, and engineering. It's used in calculations involving ideal gases, chemical reactions, and energy transformations.

4. Using the Calculator

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

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: What is the accepted value of R?
A: The accepted value is approximately 0.08206 L·atm/mol·K, though it can be expressed in different units.

Q2: How does R relate to Boltzmann's constant?
A: R = N_A × k_B, where N_A is Avogadro's number and k_B is Boltzmann's constant.

Q3: When is the ideal gas law not applicable?
A: At high pressures or low temperatures where real gas behavior deviates from ideal.

Q4: How do I convert between different units of R?
A: Common conversions include 8.314 J/mol·K and 1.987 cal/mol·K.

Q5: Why is temperature in Kelvin?
A: Kelvin is an absolute temperature scale required for thermodynamic calculations.