Problem: Calculate the pressure exerted by 1.00 mol of Ne in a box that is 0.300 L and 298 K. For Ne, a = 0.211 L2 atm/mol2 and b = 0.0171 L/mol.

We’re being asked to calculate the pressure exerted by a Ne in a box using the Van der Waal’s equation. 

The Van der Waals equation is shown below:

$\boxed{\left(\mathbf{P}\mathbf{+}\mathbf{a}\frac{{\mathbf{n}}^{\mathbf{2}}}{{\mathbf{V}}^{\mathbf{2}}}\right)\left(\mathbf{V}\mathbf{-}\mathbf{n}\mathbf{b}\right)\mathbf{=}\mathbf{n}\mathbf{R}\mathbf{T}}$

▪ P = pressure, atm
▪ V = volume, L
▪ n = # of moles, mol
▪ R = gas constant = 0.08206 (L∙atm)/(mol∙K)
▪ T = temperature, K
▪ a = polarity coefficient
▪ b = size coefficient

Let’s first isolate the pressure in the Van der Waals Equation: