Ideal Gas Constant

[sanguinee]

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So the ideal gas constant is 8.314 J/molK or 0.0821 L*atm/mol*K. I understand there is a difference in units, but when do you use one vs the other? I'm assuming ideal gas law uses 0.0821 b/c the units have Liters in them.

 

[Cawolf]

Yes, it only depends on the units you are using.

In general, chemistry uses R = 0.0821 and physics uses R = 8.314.

In terms of the MCAT, you are correct that PV = nRT is R = 0.0821 due to units.

Anything that uses SI units will likely use 8.314, because these are in SI units (physics and gas kinetics).