Ideal Gas Specific Heats

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IMPORTANT

The ideal gas polynomial equations are ONLY applicable to real gases at low pressures when the ideal gas EOS is applicable.

Recall from Chapter 2, Lesson F that the ideal gas EOS can be used when:

For most gases: Criterion for application of the ideal gas EOS to most gases

For diatomic gases and the noble gases He, Ne, Ar and Xe: Criterion for application of the ideal gas EOS to noble and diatomic gases

Often, ideal gas specific heats and heat capacities are approximated as polynomials in terms of T:
where a, b, c, and d are constants for a given substance .
indicates it is an ideal-gas specific heat

Recall from the previous lesson that the internal energy of an ideal gas is a function of T only:

Molar internal energy as a function of temperature only and Molar enthalpy as a function of T only
Therefore, the heat capacities (or specific heats) for ideal gases reduce to:
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Ch 3, Lesson C, Page 3 - Ideal Gas Specific Heats