Van der Waals constant $b$ (real gas) chemical form. only

http://www2.ucdsb.on.ca/tiss/stretton/database/van_der_waals_constants.html

I don't understand how to calculate exact constant - b, given only the chemical formula and nothing else.

Q: T || F --- the following molecules are arranged from largest to smallest b van der Waals constant per mol

C2F4, C2H6O, Cl2, Ne

I know that the Van der Waals eq. is a better description of the behavior of real gases and that it is [P + a (n/V)^2] (V/n - b) = RT. and that b represents the correction term for the size of the atoms/molecules [=] "units of " volume/mol

I just don't understand how to calculate exact b, given only the chemical formula and nothing else.

After looking at the website could reason a bit through electronegativity that C2F4, must be the largest --- am I supposed to plug in fixed values for P, V and T.

like give P, V, and T any values? for all calculations?

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• The van der Waals constants $a$ and $b$ are empirically determined. How would you go about calculating them? – jacob1729 Jan 31 at 14:40
• I don't think there is a simple relationship between chemical formula and van der Waal's $b$. For example I would expect organic componds which are isomers of each other to have different values for $b$ dispite having the same chemical formula. However the values for $b$ for all the componds in your question are given in the site you linked to. – By Symmetry Jan 31 at 14:43
• This is a problem for class and it says to show work. - so I think there's supposed to be a relationship? – ThermoRestart Jan 31 at 14:44