What does the equation of state for real gases incorporate to account for molecular interactions?

The equation of state for real gases incorporates virial coefficients to account for molecular interactions. In contrast to ideal gases, which assume no interactions between molecules, real gases experience attractive and repulsive forces. The virial equation of state expands upon the ideal gas law by introducing these coefficients to correct for deviations from ideal behavior.

The coefficients represent interactions at different densities and temperatures. The first virial coefficient accounts for volume occupied by gas particles, while higher-order coefficients account for intermolecular forces. As such, they provide a more detailed and accurate representation of the behavior of gases under various conditions of temperature and pressure.

This nuanced approach allows for better predictions of how real gases will behave compared to their ideal counterparts, especially at high pressures and low temperatures where molecular interactions become significant.