virial coefficient

noun

: one of the coefficients in a series of terms involving inverse powers of specific volume whose sum represents the product of specific volume by pressure for a pure gas

useful form of the equation of state of a real gas is pv = A + B/v + C/v² + …, where A, B, C, etc. are functions of the temperature and are called the virial coefficients

—F. W. Sears

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