10.15 Given below are observations on molar specific heats at room temperature of…

PHYSICS · Multi-part · A Level · Physics · Further mechanics and thermal physics · Further mechanics and thermal physics

Problem

10.15 Given below are observations on molar specific heats at room temperature of some common gases.

Gas	Molar specific heat ( $\mathrm{C}_{\mathrm{v}}$ ) ( $\mathbf{c a l} \mathbf{~ m o l}^{\mathbf{- 1}} \mathbf{K}^{\mathbf{- 1}}$ )
Hydrogen	4.87
Nitrogen	4.97
Oxygen	5.02
Nitric oxide	4.99
Carbon monoxide	5.01
Chlorine	6.17

The measured molar specific heats of these gases are markedly different from those for monatomic gases. Typically, molar specific heat of a monatomic gas is

2.92 \mathrm{cal} / \mathrm{mol} \mathrm{K}

. Explain this difference. What can you infer from the somewhat larger (than the rest) value for chlorine ? (1) Explain this difference. (2) What can you infer from the somewhat larger (than the rest) value for chlorine ?

Related theory

Energy Distribution
Degrees of freedom and specific heats
Law of equipartition of energy
Kinetic Theory

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