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Updated: Jun 12, 2026

Interactive Molecular Model Assembly with 3D Printing
Published on: August 13, 2020
Molecular model for carbon dioxide optimized to vapor-liquid equilibria
Thorsten Merker1, Cemal Engin, Jadran Vrabec
1Laboratory of Engineering Thermodynamics, University of Kaiserslautern, 67633 Kaiserslautern, Germany.
A new molecular model for carbon dioxide (CO2) accurately predicts thermophysical properties, showing minimal deviations from experimental data across a wide temperature range.
Area of Science:
- Physical Chemistry
- Thermodynamics
- Computational Chemistry
Background:
- Accurate molecular models are crucial for predicting the behavior of substances like carbon dioxide.
- Existing models may have limitations in predicting thermophysical properties across various conditions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop and optimize a molecular model for carbon dioxide (CO2).
- To validate the model's accuracy against experimental data and a reference equation of state.
Main Methods:
- Optimized Lennard-Jones site parameters, bond length, and quadrupole moment.
- Compared model predictions with experimental vapor-liquid equilibrium data.
- Assessed thermophysical properties (density, enthalpy, etc.) across the fluid region.
Main Results:
- Achieved low mean unsigned deviations: 0.4% (density), 1.8% (vapor pressure), 8.1% (enthalpy of vaporization).
- Average deviations for density (4.5%) and residual enthalpy (1.7%) were found.
- Model successfully predicted radial distribution function, second virial coefficient, and transport properties (avg. 12% deviation).
Conclusions:
- The developed molecular model for CO2 demonstrates high accuracy in predicting key thermophysical properties.
- The model is reliable for representing CO2 behavior over a broad range of temperatures and conditions.
- This model serves as a valuable tool for further research and applications involving carbon dioxide.
Related Concept Videos
Phase Diagrams
Distillation: Vapor–Liquid Equilibria
Molecular Models
Molecular Comparison of Gases, Liquids, and Solids
Phase Transitions: Vaporization and Condensation
Real Gases: Effects of Intermolecular Forces and Molecular Volume Deriving Van der Waals Equation

