To clarify the problem with the van der Waals equation in regard to phase-equilibrium calculations, it is enlightening to compute the reduced vapor pressure at a reduced temperature of 0.7. Then we can apply the definition of the acentric factor to characterize the vapor pressure behavior of the van der Waals equation. If the acentric factor computed by the van der Waals equation deviates significantly from the acentric factor of typical fluids of interest, then we can quickly assess the magnitude of the error by applying the shortcut vapor-pressure equation. Perform this calculation and compare the resulting acentric factor to those on the inside covers of the book.

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