Question

a.) Use the equipartition theorem to estimate C_v (in terms of nR/2) of water vapor at room temperature. Compare this to the literature value: 25.3 J/(mol K).

Explain your answer in terms of the relative contributions from translation, rotation, and vibration considering the following spectroscopic constants:

v_1 = 3650 cm^-1 v_2 =3760 cm^-1 v_3 = 1600 cm^-1 B_rot(ave) = 16 cm^-1

b.) Calculate the value of C_v using the full statistical theory at 3000 K.

Answer 1