An Alternate Method of Introducing Fugacity

TCE

The Chemical Educator

ISSN: 1430-4171 (electronic version)

Table of Contents

Abstract Volume 4 Issue 1 (1999) pp 1-2

An Alternate Method of Introducing Fugacity

Mohamed Jemal

Faculty of Science, Department of Chemistry, Campus Universitaire, 1060 Tunis, Tunisia

Published online: 1 February 1999

Abstract. In current textbooks fugacity is introduced according to its differential or integral mathematical formulation. In this article an alternative method of explanation is offered. It is suggested that the real state of a pure gas can be described by comparing it to a hypothetical idealized state. The differences between these two states can then be expressed in terms of a function, F, defined as F(T, P ) = µreal (T, P ) - µideal (T, P ) where µreal and µideal are the chemical potentials of the gas in its real and ideal states, respectively. The function F is a molar excess quantity and is expressed as F(T, P ) = RT lnf , where f is the fugacity coefficient. This approach introduces fugacity deductively through the F function, which leads to f , the fugacity coefficient. This method is also appropriate for introducing the activity of solution components and the fugacity of a real gas in gaseous mixtures.

Key Words: In the Classroom; fugacity; physical chemistry; real gases; teaching/learning aids; thermodynamics

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