Definition:Universal Gas Constant

Definition

The universal gas constant is a constant of proportion that relates the average relative thermal energy of a mole of gas with the thermodynamic temperature of the gas.

It is defined as Avogadro's number multiplied by Boltzmann's constant:

$R = N_{\mathrm A} k$

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Symbol

$R$

The symbol for the universal gas constant is $R$.

Its $\LaTeX$ code is R .

Dimension

The universal gas constant has the dimension $\mathsf {M L^2 T^{-2} \Theta^{-1} N^{-1} }$.

Units

The SI unit for the universal gas constant is given as joules per kelvin per mole:

$\mathrm {J \, K^{-1} \, mol^{-1} }$

Value

The value of the universal gas constant is:

\(\ds R\)

\(\approx\)

\(\ds 8 \cdotp 31446 \, 26181 \, 5324\)

joule per degree kelvin per mole: $\mathrm {J \, K^{-1} \, mol^{-1} }$

\(\quad\) in SI units

\(\ds \)

\(\approx\)

\(\ds 8 \cdotp 31446 \, 26181 \, 5324\)

kilojoule per degree kelvin per kilogram-mole: $\mathrm {kJ \, kg \, mol^{-1} \, K^{-1} }$

\(\ds \)

\(\approx\)

\(\ds 8 \cdotp 31446 \, 26181 \, 5324 \times 10^7\)

erg per degree kelvin per mole: $\mathrm {erg \, K^{-1} \, mol^{-1} }$

\(\quad\) in CGS units

\(\ds \)

\(\approx\)

\(\ds 1545\)

foot-pound per degree Rankine per pound-mole: $\mathrm {ft \, lbf \, \rankine^{-1} \, lb \, mol^{-1} }$

\(\quad\) in FPS units

Also known as

The universal gas constant is also known as:

• the molar gas constant
• the ideal gas constant
• the gas constant.

Also see

• Definition:Boltzmann's Constant

Sources

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