1. What is the Compressibility Factor?

The compressibility factor (Z) is a dimensionless quantity that describes the deviation of a real gas from ideal gas behavior. It's defined as the ratio of the molar volume of a gas to the molar volume of an ideal gas at the same temperature and pressure.

2. How Does the Calculator Work?

The calculator uses the compressibility factor formula:

Where:

• \( P \) — Pressure (Pa)
• \( V \) — Molar volume (m³/mol)
• \( R \) — Gas constant (8.314 J/mol·K)
• \( T \) — Temperature (K)

Explanation: For an ideal gas, Z = 1. For real gases, Z deviates from 1, indicating non-ideal behavior due to intermolecular forces and molecular volume.

3. Importance of Compressibility Factor

Details: The compressibility factor is crucial in engineering applications, particularly in the design of chemical processes, pipelines, and storage systems for gases. It helps predict how gases will behave under different pressure and temperature conditions.

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Enter pressure in Pascals, molar volume in m³/mol, gas constant in J/mol·K (default is 8.314), and temperature in Kelvin. All values must be positive.

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: What does Z = 1 mean?
A: Z = 1 indicates ideal gas behavior, where the gas follows the ideal gas law exactly.

Q2: When is Z greater than 1?
A: Z > 1 typically occurs at high pressures where repulsive forces between molecules dominate, making the gas less compressible than an ideal gas.

Q3: When is Z less than 1?
A: Z < 1 typically occurs at moderate pressures where attractive forces between molecules dominate, making the gas more compressible than an ideal gas.

Q4: How does temperature affect Z?
A: At high temperatures, gases tend to behave more ideally (Z approaches 1), while at low temperatures, deviations from ideal behavior are more pronounced.

Q5: What is the universal gas constant value?
A: The universal gas constant R is approximately 8.314 J/mol·K, which is the default value in this calculator.