Question:medium

Estimate the fraction of molecular volume to the actual volume occupied by oxygen gas at STP. Take the diameter of an oxygen molecule to be 3 Å.

Updated On: Jan 21, 2026
Show Solution

Solution and Explanation

Given:

Diameter of O2 molecule = 3 Å
Radius, r = 1.5 Å = 1.5 × 10−10 m
Avogadro’s number, NA = 6.022 × 1023 mol−1
Molar volume at STP = 22.4 L = 22.4 × 10−3 m3


Step 1: Volume of one oxygen molecule

Assuming the molecule to be spherical:

Volume of one molecule,

V = (4/3)πr3

V = (4/3)π(1.5 × 10−10)3

V = 1.41 × 10−29 m3


Step 2: Total molecular volume of 1 mole of O2

Total molecular volume = NA × volume of one molecule

= 6.022 × 1023 × 1.41 × 10−29

= 8.49 × 10−6 m3


Step 3: Calculate the fraction of molecular volume to actual volume

Fraction = (Total molecular volume) / (Actual volume at STP)

Fraction = (8.49 × 10−6) / (22.4 × 10−3)

Fraction = 3.8 × 10−4


Final Answer:

The fraction of molecular volume to the actual volume occupied by oxygen gas at STP is:

≈ 3.8 × 10−4

Was this answer helpful?
1