Resumen de Kundt’s Tube: An Acoustic Gas Analyzer
Natasha Aristov, Gehsa Habekost, Achim Habekost
A Kundt tube is normally used to measure the speed of sound in gases. Therefore, from known speeds of sound, a Kundt tube can be used to identify gases and their fractions in mixtures. In these experiments, the speed of sound is determined by measuring the frequency of a standing sound wave at a fixed tube length, temperature, and pressure. This resonant frequency is dependent only on the properties of the gas, namely, its heat capacity ratio (adiabatic index) and molar mass. We discuss the capabilities of a Kundt tube for use as an instructional device to identify gases on the basis of their acoustic spectra and to use these spectra to determine the fractions of components of a binary mixture or to study the kinetics of gas-generating or gas-depleting reactions.
