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Compressibility Factor Formula:
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The compressibility factor (Z) is a dimensionless quantity that describes the deviation of a real gas from ideal gas behavior. It indicates how much a real gas deviates from ideal gas law predictions under given conditions of pressure and temperature.
The calculator uses the compressibility factor formula:
Where:
Explanation: For an ideal gas, Z = 1. When Z < 1, attractive forces dominate; when Z > 1, repulsive forces dominate.
Details: The compressibility factor is crucial in chemical engineering, thermodynamics, and gas processing for accurate prediction of gas behavior, especially at high pressures and low temperatures where gases deviate significantly from ideal behavior.
Tips: Enter pressure in Pascals, volume in cubic meters, moles, and temperature in Kelvin. All values must be positive and non-zero for accurate calculation.
Q1: What does Z = 1 mean?
A: Z = 1 indicates ideal gas behavior, where the gas follows the ideal gas law perfectly.
Q2: When is Z less than 1?
A: Z < 1 typically occurs at moderate pressures where intermolecular attractive forces reduce the actual volume compared to ideal gas prediction.
Q3: When is Z greater than 1?
A: Z > 1 occurs at high pressures where molecular volume and repulsive forces become significant, increasing the actual volume.
Q4: How does temperature affect Z?
A: At constant pressure, Z generally approaches 1 as temperature increases because thermal energy overcomes intermolecular forces.
Q5: What are typical Z values for common gases?
A: At standard conditions, most gases have Z close to 1. At high pressures, Z can range from 0.2 to 2.0 or more depending on the gas and conditions.