Real Gas


real gas

[′rēl ′gas] (thermodynamics) A gas, as considered from the viewpoint in which deviations from the ideal gas law, resulting from interactions of gas molecules, are taken into account. Also known as imperfect gas.

Real Gas

 

a gas having properties that are influenced significantly by molecular interaction. Under normal conditions, when the mean potential energy of molecular interactions is appreciably less than the mean kinetic energy, the properties of a real gas are not significantly different from those of an ideal gas—in such instances, ideal gas laws can be applied to real gases. The properties of real gases differ most noticeably from those of ideal gases at high pressures and low temperatures, when quantum effects start appearing.