The compressibility factor (Z) shows how much a real gas behaves differently from an ideal gas.
- Z = 1 → gas behaves like an ideal gas.
- Z < 1 → gas is easier to compress because molecules attract each other.
- Z > 1 → gas is harder to compress because molecules repel each other or take up space.
In simple words:
Z tells us if a gas acts like a perfect gas or if its molecules’ size and attraction change its behavior.