How this calculator works
Pressure multiplied by volume has units of energy. Dividing this product by nRT gives the dimensionless compressibility factor Z. Values above or below one quantify how a measured state differs from an ideal gas. This is an algebraic state calculation, not a predictive equation of state: supply Z from data when solving another variable.
Formula
pV = ZnRT; Z = pV/(nRT).
Worked example
For n = 1 mol, T = 300 K and V = 0.02494338785 m³, p = 100000 Pa at Z = 1 and 80000 Pa at Z = 0.8.
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Frequently asked questions
Is pressure absolute?
Yes. Add local atmospheric pressure to gauge pressure before using this equation.
Can temperature be zero?
No. This gas model requires a strictly positive kelvin temperature.
What does Z = 1 mean?
The state matches pV = nRT, although that alone does not prove all ideal-gas assumptions.