Module 11: Gas Law

OUTLINE
OUTLINE

A. Presentation of the Lesson

1. Nature of Gases
2. Kinetic Molecular Theory
3. The Gas Laws

OUTCOMES
OUTLINE

At the end of this module, you should be able to answer the

following questions:
1. State the three common states of matter and their general
properties
2. Describe the motion of gas particles to the KMT
3. Interpret gas pressures in terms of Kinetic Theory
4. Differentiate the concepts of the various gas laws: Boyle’s
Law, Charles’ Law, Combined Gas Law, Avogadro’s Law, the
Ideal Gas Law and Dalton’s Law
5. Recognize the difference between gases and ideal gases
6. Use gas law equations to calculate conditions and change in
conditions of gases

LESSON PROPER: Getting started (Pre-assessment, activating

prior knowledge, and/or review), Discussion, activities/tasks,
assessment
OUTLINE

The Nature of Gases

Gases differ significantly from solids and liquids in different aspects. Below
are the properties of gases as differentiated from solids and liquids.

1. Expansibility. A gas expands spontaneously to fill its container.

Consequently, the volume of a gas equal the volume of the container
in which it held. Solids and liquids do not expand to fill the container.
2. Compressibility. When pressure is applied to a gas, its volume readily
decreases. Solids and liquids are not readily compressible.
3. Solubility. Gases form homogeneous mixtures with each other
regardless of the identities or relative proportions of the component
gases.
4. Diffusibility. It is spontaneous spreading of gaseous molecules. Solids
and liquids do not diffuse readily. Diffusion between solids is
extremely low while diffusion within liquids occurs slowly.
 5. Molecules of gases are relatively far apart. Solids are closely packed
while molecules of liquids are close together and occupy perhaps 70
percent of the total space.
6. Low density is expected for gaseous molecules if measured at the
same temperature and pressure. Solids have the highest density with
liquids close behind.
7. Gases and liquids tend to flow readily, that is why, they are fluids.
Consequently, gases flow in different directions while liquids flow
coherently.

Behaviors of a pure gas can be related to just 4 physical properties namely

pressure, volume, temperature and moles of gas.

Gas pressure is the result of simultaneous collisions of billions of gas

particles with an object. It is defined as force exerted by a gas per unit
surface area of an object.

Atmospheric pressure is directly related to the length of the column of

mercury in a barometer and is expressed in mm or cm of mercury (Hg).

Barometers are devices commonly used to measure atmospheric pressure.

SI Unit for pressure is Pascal (Pa).

Standard atmospheric pressure is expressed in several ways:

1 atmosphere (atm) = 14.7 pounds per square inch (psi) = 760

mmHg = 760 tor

Kelvin temperature scale reflects the relativity between temperature and

average kinetic energy.

Absolute zero equals 0 K or –273oC. This is the temperature at which

motion of particles theoretically ceases.

KINETIC MOLECULAR THEORY

1. Gases consist of tiny particles called molecules.

2. The distance between the molecules of a gas is very great compared to
the size of the molecules themselves (that is, the volume occupied by a
gas is mostly empty space.
 If the distance between molecules is very great compared to the
size of the molecules themselves, the molecules will occupy only a
small fraction of that volume so the density will be very low.

3. Gas molecules are in rapid motion with each other and move in straight
lines, frequently colliding with each other and with the walls of the
container.
  If the molecules are moving rapidly in all directions, they can fill any
size container. They can keep on moving until they hit a wall of the
container or until they hit each other and bounce back; that is, the
gas will have no definite volume and no definite shape.

4. Gas molecules do not attract each other.

 Each kind of molecule strikes the walls of the container the same
number of times per second as if it were the only kind of molecule
present.

5. When molecules of a gas collide with each other or with the walls of the
container, they bounce back with no loss of energy. Such collisions are
said to be perfectly elastic.
 We can show that the collision must be perfectly elastic by means
of a reverse type of reasoning. Suppose that the collisions between
molecules were not perfectly elastic; that is, suppose some energy
was lost upon collision with other molecules and with the walls of
the container. Eventually, the gas molecules would have so little
energy left that they would settle to the bottom of the container.
However, gases never settle. Therefore, the collisions between the
molecules themselves and with the walls of the container must be
perfectly elastic.

6. The average kinetic energy of the molecules is the same for all gases at
the same temperature. The average kinetic energy increases as the
temperature increases and decreases as the temperature decreases.
 Since gas molecules are so far apart, it should be possible to force
them closer together by increasing the pressure: that is, gases
should be compressible, as indeed they are.

THE GAS LAWS

BOYLE’S LAW

Boyle’s Law states that, at constant temperature, the volume of a gas

1
Vα
is inversely proportional to the pressure: p
P1V1 = P2V2 where: P1 = original pressure
P2 = new pressure
V1 = original volume
V2 = new volume

A hypothetical gas that would follow Boyle’s law under all conditions is
called an ideal gas. Deviations from Boyle’s law that occur with real gases
represent non-ideal behavior.

PROBLEM SOLVING EXAMPLE

What pressure is required to compress 5 L of gas at 1 atm pressure to 1L at

a constant temperature?
Application of Boyle’s Law:
Syringe – Boyle’s law permits medical staff to give injections using a
syringe. When the plunger is drawn back, the increase in volume inside the
syringe creates a low pressure that draws the liquid from the vial into the
syringe.
When you suck up a liquid through a straw, you do essentially the same
thing, using your lungs as the chamber that increases in volume.

CHARLES’ LAW

Charles’ law states that at constant pressure, the volume of a given

quantity of a gas varies directly with the temperature:

V αT
V1 V2
=
T1 T2

 To use Charles’ law, the temperature must be expressed on the

absolute scales (Kelvin scale). The absolute scale is calculated by
adding 273 to the temperature in degrees centigrade.

If Charles’ law were strictly obeyed, gases would not condense when they
are cooled. This means that gases behave in an ideal fashion only at
relatively high temperatures and low pressures.

PROBLEM SOLVING EXAMPLE

A certain gas occupies a volume of 100 mL at a temperature of 20 oC. What

will its volume be at 10oC, if the pressure remains constant?

Solution:
Given:
V1 = 100 mL
o
DALTON’S LAW OF PARTIAL PRESSURES

The pressure exerted by each gas in a mixture is called its partial pressure.
The total pressure exerted by a mixture of gases is equal to the
sum of the partial pressures of the gases in the mixture. This
statement, known as Dalton’s law of partial pressures, can be expressed as:
PT = Pa + Pb + Pc + … where: PT = total pressure
Pa, Pb, Pc = partial pressures of the gases present

When a gas is collected over water (a typical laboratory method), some

water vapor mixes with the gas. The total gas pressure then is given by
PT = PH2O +Pa + Pb + Pc + …
PH2O = vapor pressure of water at the temperature of the
system
PROBLEM SOLVING EXAMPLE

A mixture of nitrogen and oxygen gas is collected by displacement of water

at 30oC and 700 torr Hg pressure. If the partial pressure of nitrogen is 550
torr Hg, what is the partial pressure of oxygen? (vapor pressure of H 2O at
30oC = 32 torr Hg)

Solution:

Here, one uses Dalton’s law of partial pressures. This law can be stated:
each of the gases in a gaseous mixture behaves independently of the other
gases and exerts its own pressure. The total pressure of the mixture is the
sum of the partial pressures exerted by each gas present.

PT = P a + P b + P c + …

Given:PT = 700 torr

PN2 = 550 torr
PH2O = 32 torr Required: PO2

PT = PO2 + PN2 + PH2O

700 torr = PO2 + 550 torr + 32 torr
700 torr = PO2 + 582 torr
PO2 = 700 torr – 582 torr
GAY-LUSSAC’S LAW

The law of Gay-Lussac states that at constant volume, the pressure

exerted by a given mass of gas varies directly with the absolute
temperature:

PαT where volume and mass of gas are constant

P1 P2
=
T1 T2

Gay-Lussac’s law of combining volumes states that when reactions take

place in the gaseous state, under conditions of constant temperature and
pressure, the volumes of reactants and products can be expressed as ratios
of small whole numbers.

PROBLEM SOLVING EXAMPLE

The air in a tank has a pressure 640 mmHg at 23 oC. When placed in sunlight
the temperature rose to 48oC. What was the pressure in the tank?

P1 = 640 mmHg T1 = 23oC + 273 = 296 K

P2 = ? T2 = 48oC + 273 = 321 K

P1 P2 P1 T 2 ( 640 mm Hg ) ( 321 K )
= P2 = = =694 mm Hg
T1 T2 T1 296 K

Practical Applications of Gay-Lussac’s Law:

1. One practical application of Gay-Lussac’s Law is the gas contained in a

spray can of the type commonly used for deodorants, spray nets,
insecticides, and paints. Gay-Lussac’s Law says that the pressure of
the gas will increase if it is heated. This is why such cans contain
warnings against storage above 120oF, against incineration even when
empty, or against placing in hot water or near radiators or stoves.
These cans are built to withstand a certain internal pressure. Beyond
that pressure, the cans will burst or explode.

2. A pressure cooker is a cooking vessel made of aluminum or steel, with

an airtight lid. The accumulated steam increases the pressure and the
boiling point of water. The pressure cooker utilizes high pressure to
 cook food in one-third the time required by conventional methods. The
pressure cooker saves food value, tenderizes tough meat such as beef,
and saves fuel by about 50%.
When you heat any sealed metal container with constant volume and
a constant amount of gas, the pressure increases. When the pressure
increases, the boiling point also increases. Based on this principle,
Denis Papin, a French physicist, invented the pressure cooker in 1679.
Most of the steam is trapped, and water boils at a higher
temperature. If the pressure inside is double the atmospheric
pressure, the highest temperature the cooker can reach is about
120oC.

IDEAL GAS LAW

PV = nRT where :
P = pressure (in atm)
V = volume (in Liters)
n = number of moles (in moles)
T = temperature (in Kelvin)
L⋅atm
R = 0.082 mole⋅K

The hypothetical ideal gas obeys exactly the mathematical statement of the
ideal gas law. This statement is also called the equation of state of an ideal
gas because it relates the variables (P, V, n, T) that specify properties of the
gas. Molecules of ideal gases have no attraction for one another and have
no intrinsic volume; they are “point particles.” Real gases act in a less than
ideal way, especially under conditions of increased pressure and/or
decreased temperature. Real gas behavior approaches that of ideal gases
as the gas pressure becomes very low. The ideal gas law is thus
considered a “limiting law.”

PROBLEM SOLVING EXAMPLE

How many moles of hydrogen gas are present in a 50 L steel cylinder if the
pressure is 10 atm and the temperature is 27 oC?

P = 10 atm T = 27oC + 273 = 300 K n=?

L⋅atm
V = 50 L R = 0.082 mole⋅K

PV = nRT
PV ( 10 atm ) ( 50 L )
n= = =20 moles
 (0 . 082 mole⋅K ) ( 300 K )

COMBINED GAS LAW

The combined gas law states that for a given mass of gas, the volume
is inversely proportional to the pressure and directly proportional
to the absolute temperature.
P1V 1 P2V 2
=
T1 T2
PROBLEM SOLVING EXAMPLE

Calculate the pressure required to compress 2 L of a gas at 700 mm Hg

pressure and 20oC into a container of 0.1 L capacity at a temperature of -
150oC.
P1 = 700 mmHg P2 = ?
V1 = 2 L V2 = 0.1 L
o
T1 = 20 C + 273 = 293 K T2 = -150oC + 273 = 123 K

P1 V 1 P2 V 2
=
T1 T2
P1 V 1 T 2 ( 700 mmHg ) ( 2 L )( 123 K )
P2 = = =5877 mmHg
T1V2 ( 293K ) ( 0. 1L )

AVOGADRO’S LAW (THE MOLE CONCEPT)

Avogadro’s Law: The volume of a gas is directly related to the

number of moles of a gas when the temperature and pressure are
not changed.

V1 V2
=
n1 n2
V1 - original volume V2 – new volume
n1 – initial number of moles n2 – final number of
moles
 If the moles of a gas are doubled, then the volume will double as long
as the pressure and temperature remain the same.

Application:
  When you blow up a balloon, its volume increases because of the
addition of more air molecules.
 If a ball is punctured and some of the air leaks out, its volume
decreases.

PROBLEM SOLVING EXAMPLE

A balloon containing 2.00 moles of helium has a volume of 880 mL. What is
the new volume after 4 more moles of helium are added to the balloon at
the same temperature and pressure?

V1 = 880 mL V2 = ?
n1 = 2.00 moles n2 = 6.00 moles

V1 V2 V 1 n2 ( 880 mL ) ( 6 . 00 moles )
= V 2= = =2640 mL
n1 n2  n1 2 .00 moles

REAL GASES

Real gases show behavior that deviates from that of an ideal gas. Boyle’s
law predicts that at extremely high pressure, gas volume becomes very
small, almost zero. This cannot be true for real gases. Real gases have
intermolecular forces. At high pressure, molecules become crowded,
causing intermolecular repulsion thus preventing the volume from
decreasing as much as the ideal gas law predicts.

MOLAR VOLUME
Because of intermolecular forces, the molecules of real gases are attracted
to each other, therefore reducing the number of particles colliding. The
pressure exerted by a real gas on the walls of its container would be less
than that exerted by an ideal gas.

At standard temperature and pressure or STP (1 atm and 273 K), 1 mole of
a gas occupies 22.4 L.

PROBLEM SOLVING EXAMPLE

What is the volume of 56.0 g N2 gas at STP?

( )( )
1 mole N 2 22. 4 L N2
56 . 0 g N 2 =44 . 8 L N2
28 g N 2 1 mole N 2
V of N2 gas =
where MW N2 = 2N = 2(14) = 28 g/mol
 Exercise No. 13
GAS LAWS score

Name: _________________________________________ Date: _____________

Instructor: ______________________________________ Section: ___________

Solve the following completely.

1. A sample of helium gas has a volume of 0.250 L at 800 torr. If the volume
is changed to 500 mL, what is the new pressure, assuming no change in
temperature?

2. A sample of neon gas at 760 mmHg has a volume of 10.0 L and a

temperature of 34oC. Find the new volume of the gas after the
temperature has been increased to 75oC at 760 torr.

3. Aerosol can be dangerous when they are heated because they can
explode. Suppose a can of insecticide with a pressure of 4.0 atm at room
temperature (28oC) is thrown into a fire. If the temperature of the gas
inside the can reaches 400oC, what will be its pressure?

4. A weather balloon is filled with 16.0 L of helium at a temperature of 26 oC

and a pressure of 700 mmHg. What is the pressure of the helium in the
balloon in the upper atmosphere when the temperature is -33 oC and the
volume becomes 35.0 L?

5. At a certain temperature and pressure, 8.00 g of nitrogen (N 2) has a

volume of 5.0L. What is the volume after 4.00 g of nitrogen is added to
the balloon?
6. Calculate the pressure exerted by 0.300 mole of gas contained in an 8.00-
L vessel at 18oC.

7. How many moles of O2 gas are present in 5.6 L at STP?

8. What volume will 1.50 moles of CH4 has occupied at STP?

READINGS AND REFERENCES

OUTLINE

Baguio, Saranay and Buturan, Rose Mary. Breaking Through

Chemistry. Manila: C & E Publishing Inc. 2006.

Brown, Theodore; Leemay, Eugene; Bursten, Bruce. Chemistry

the central Science, 9th edition. Singapore: Pearson Education
Pte. Ltd.
Chang, Raymond and Lovett, Chip. Understanding Chemistry.
New York: McGrawHill. 2005.

Fogiel, M. Chemistry Super Review. New Jersey: Research and

Education Association. 2005.

Loyola Student Center and Berea Arts and Sciences High School.
Essential Sciences for University Bound Students. Quezon
City: ECC Graphics Printing Services. 2006.

Redmore, Fred H. Fundamentals of Chemistry. New Jersey:

Prentice Hall Inc. 1979.

Sackheim, George and Lehman, Dennis. Chemistry for the

Health Sciences. Singapore: Pearson Education Asia Pte Ltd.
2002.

Simon and Schuster. SAT Chemistry, 2006-2007 Edition. New

York: Kaplan 2006.

Tabinas, Camilo A. Naming and Writing Simple Inorganic

Chemical Formulas (Text and Module with Worksheets).
Quezon City: C & E Publishing, Inc. 2006.

http://www.chemistry24.com/college_chemistry/college-
chemistry.html

Inorganic Worktext by Fronda et. al

Chemistry (Addison-Wesley) fifth edition by Anthony C.

Wilbraham, Dennis D. Staley, Michael S. Matta, Edward L.
Waterman

PNU Physical Science Reviewer