Equation Of State
What is Equation Of State?
An equation of state is a thermodynamic equation relating state variables that describe the state of matter under a given set of physical conditions. The most well-known is the ideal gas law (PV = nRT), which relates pressure, volume, amount, and temperature for an ideal gas. More complex equations of state, such as the van der Waals equation, account for real-gas behavior by including correction terms for intermolecular attractions and finite molecular volumes.
Key Facts
Frequently Asked Questions
An equation of state is a thermodynamic equation relating state variables that describe the state of matter under a given set of physical conditions. The most well-known is the ideal gas law (PV = nRT), which relates pressure, volume, amount, and temperature for an ideal gas. More complex equations of state, such as the van der Waals equation, account for real-gas behavior by including correction terms for intermolecular attractions and finite molecular volumes.