GASES & THEIR

PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
The Physical Properties of Gases
Chemistry in your Future While
scuba-diving with some friends, you
surface to find that one of the party is
barely conscious and appears to be in
pain. The group had been exploring a
reef 150 feet below the surface and
didn’t notice when this person surfaced
much earlier than the rest. Three of you
immediately force this diver back down
100 feet and slowly bring him up in
stages of 50 feet, staying at each depth
for about 30 minutes. At the end of the
process, he is fully recovered. The
certified divers in the group knew how
to handle the emergency, but you are the
only one who studied chemistry and can
explain what occurred. It has to do with
the material in Chapter 5.
 Air Bags
• Impact trips a sensor that activates the reaction:

• The gaseous product of the reaction occupies 450

times more space than does the solid reactant.
 Pressure Defined

• Gas molecules are in

constant motion,
colliding with each
other and with the
walls of their
container.
• The sum of ALL these
collisions is called
pressure.
 A Swarm of Particles
• The air around us is a
mixture of gases, tasteless,
odorless and invisible
• We can feel its effects,
and we depend on it every
moment of our existence.
• It’s a swarm of molecules
not unlike a swarm of
gnats
 Pressure
• Pressure is directly proportional to the number
of gas molecules in the air; pressure can change.
 Pressure and Weather
• High atmospheric
pressure redirects
storms (sign of fair
weather).
• Low atmospheric
pressure tends to draw
storms in (sign of rainy
weather).
• Changes in pressure are
responsible for wind.
PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
OF
GASES
 Some Important Industrial Gases
Name - Formula Origin and use

Methane (CH4) Natural deposits; domestic fuel

Ammonia (NH3) From N2 + H2 ; fertilizers, explosives

Chlorine (Cl2) Electrolysis of seawater; bleaching

and disinfecting

Oxygen (O2) Liquified air; steelmaking

Ethylene (C2H4) High-temperature decomposition of

natural gas; plastics
 The Three States of Matter

Br2 can exist as a gas (A), liquid (B), or solid (C) if p

& T are the right values.
 Important Characteristics of Gases
1) Gases are highly compressible
An external force compresses the gas sample and decreases its
volume, removing the external force allows the gas volume to
increase.
2) Gases are thermally expandable
When a gas sample is heated, its volume increases, and when it is
cooled its volume decreases.
3) Gases have low viscosity
Gases flow much easier than liquids or solids.
4) Most Gases have low densities
Gas densities are on the order of grams per liter whereas liquids
and solids are grams per cubic cm, 1000 times greater.
5) Gases are infinitely miscible
Gases mix in any proportion such as in air, a mixture of many gases.
Substances That Are Gases under
Normal Conditions
Substance Formula MM(g/mol)
• Helium He 4.0
• Neon Ne 20.2
• Argon Ar 39.9
• Hydrogen H2 2.0
• Nitrogen N2 28.0
• Nitrogen Monoxide NO 30.0
• Oxygen O2 32.0
• Hydrogen Chloride HCL 36.5
• Ozone O3 48.0
• Ammonia NH3 17.0
 Pressure of the Atmosphere
• Called “atmospheric pressure,” or the force exerted upon us by the
atmosphere above us.

• A measure of the weight of the atmosphere pressing down upon us.

Pressure = Force
Area

• Measured using a barometer - A device that can weigh the

atmosphere above us.
 Effect of Atmospheric Pressure on
Objects at the Earth’s Surface

In left diagram, p inside can = p outside can. In right,

air is removed (pinside < poutside) and can collapses.
 A Mercury Barometer

…measures atmospheric pressure

 The Mystery of the Suction Pump

When you drink through a straw, you create a lower p

above liquid, and the atmosphere pushes the liquid up.
 Manometers are
used to measure gas
pressure in an expt.

Differential manometers. (a) Both columns are at the same height because
both sides are exposed to the atmosphere; (b) the stopcock on the left is
closed, and the stopcock on the right is open to the atmosphere. The
difference in heights is a direct measure of the difference in pressure
between the flask on the left and the atmospheric pressure.
 Common Units of Pressure
Unit Atmospheric Pressure Scientific Field

pascal (Pa); 1.01325 x 105 Pa SI unit; physics,

kilopascal(kPa) 101.325 kPa chemistry

atmosphere (atm) 1 atm* Chemistry

millimeters of mercury 760 mmHg* Chemistry, medicine,

( mm Hg ) biology

torr 760 torr* Chemistry

pounds per square inch 14.7 lb/in2 Engineering

( psi or lb/in2 )
bar 1.01325 bar Meteorology,
chemistry, physics
 Gas Property Relationships
• Fundamental properties of gases:
– Pressure
– Amount (measured in moles, represented by n)
– Volume (usually expressed in liters)
– Temperature (expressed in Kelvins)

• If one of these properties is changed, the others will

also change.
The Gas Laws
Boyle’s Law : P - V Relationship

• Pressure is inversely proportional to volume

• k k
P= or V = or PV=k
V P
• Change of conditions problems
if n (mol of gas) and T (in Kelvin) are constant
• P1V1 = k P2V2 = k’
k = k’
• Then :
P1V1 = P2V2
Pressure
increases
with depth &
decreases with
Height

Ascending to
quickly
increases
volume of gas
in lungs leading
to ailment
called bends.
Experimental results for Boyle’s Law
 Charles Law - V - T- Relationship

• Temperature is directly related to volume

• T proportional to Volume : T = kV

• Change of conditions problem:

• Since T/V = k or T1 / V1 = T2 / V2 or:
T1 T2 T2
= T1 = V1 x
V1 V2 V2
• NOTE: Temperatures must be expressed in Kelvin to
avoid negative values.
Experimental Results of Charles’ Law
Avogadro’s Law - Amount and Volume
The amount of gas (moles) is directly proportional to the
volume of the gas.
nαV or n = kV

For a change of conditions problem we have the initial conditions,

and the final conditions, and we must have the units the same.

n1 = initial moles of gas V1 = initial volume of gas

n2 = final moles of gas V2 = final volume of gas

n1 n2 V1
= or: n1 = n2 x
V1 V2 V2
 An Experiment to Study the Relationship
between the Volume and the Amount of a Gas

Avogadro’s law

The volume of a gas is directly proportional to the amt.

(mol) of gas
Gay-Lussac’s Law - Temperature and
Pressure

The volume of a gas confined in an insulated cylinder will

remain the same when its Kelvin temperature is doubled if,
at the same time, the pressure also is doubled.
 Change of Conditions, with No
Change in the Amount of Gas

PxV
• = constant Therefore for a change
T
of conditions :

P1 x V1 P2 x V2
=
• T1 T2
Calculations
 Change of Conditions: Problem - I

• A gas sample in the laboratory has a volume

of 45.9 L at 25 oC and a pressure of 743 mm
Hg. If the temperature is increased to 155 oC
by pumping (compressing) the gas to a new
volume of 3.10 ml what is the pressure?
 Change of Conditions: Problem - I

• P1= 743 mm Hg x 1 atm/ 760 mm Hg = 0.978 atm

• P2 = ?
• V1 = 45.9 L V2 = 3.10 ml = 0.00310 L
• T1 = 25 oC + 273 = 298 K
• T2 = 155 oC + 273 = 428 K
Change of Conditions: Problem I continued

• P1 x V1 P2 x V2
=
T1 T2

• ( 0.978 atm) ( 45.9 L) P2 (0.00310 L)

=
( 298 K) ( 428 K)
•
( 428 K) ( 0.978 atm) ( 45.9 L)
• P2 = = 21000 atm
( 298 K) ( 0.00310 L)
•
 Change of Conditions: Problem II

• A weather balloon is released at the surface

of the earth. If the volume was 100 m3 at
the surface ( temp = 25 oC, P = 1 atm )
what will its volume be at its peak altitude
of 90,000 ft where the temperature is - 90
o
C and the pressure is 15 mm Hg ?
 Change of Conditions: Problem II

• Initial Conditions Final Conditions

• V1 = 100 m3 V2 = ?
• T1 = 25 oC + 273.15 T2 = -90 oC + 273.15
• = 298 K = 183 K

• P1 = 1.0 atm P2 = 76015mm

mmHg/
Hgatm

P2 = 0.0198 atm
Change of Conditions: Problem II
continued

• P1 x V1 P2 x V2
P1V1T2
= ⇒ V2 =
T1 T2 T1P2

( 1.0 atm) ( 100 m3) ( 183 K)

• V2 = =
( 298 K) ( 0.0197 atm)

• V2 = 3117.2282 m3 = 3,100 m3 or 30 times the

volume !!!
 Change of Conditions: Problem III

• How many liters of CO2 are formed at 1.00 atm and

900 oC if 5.00 L of propane at 10.0 atm, and 25 oC is
burned in excess air?
C3H8 (g) + 5 O2 (g) → 3 CO2 (g) + 4 H2O(g)

• 25 oC + 273 = 298 K
• 900 oC + 273 = 1173 K
 Change of Conditions: Problem III
continued
• V1 = 5.00 L V2 = ?
• P1 = 10.0 atm P2 = 1.00 atm
• T1 = 298K T2 = 1173 K

• P1V1/T1 = P2V2/T2 V2 = V1P1T2/ P2T1

( 5.00 L) (10.00 atm) (1173 K)
( 1.00 atm) ( 298 K)
• V2 = = 197 L

• VCO2 = (197 L C3H8) x (3 L CO2 / 1 L C3H8) =

 Avogadro’s Law:
Volume and Amount of Gas

Problem IV:

Sulfur hexafluoride is a gas used to trace pollutant

plumes in the atmosphere, if the volume of 2.67 g of
SF6 at 1.143 atm and 28.5 oC is 2.93 m3, what will be
the mass of SF6 in a container whose volume is
543.9 m3 at 1.143 atm and 28.5 oC?
 Avogadro’s Law:
Volume and Amount of Gas
Plan: Since the temperature and pressure are the same it is a
V – n problem, so we can use Avogadro’s Law to calculate the
moles of the gas, then use the molar mass to calculate the mass
of the gas.

Solution: Molar mass SF6 = 146.07 g/mol

2.67g SF6 = 0.0183 mol SF6

146.07g SF6/mol
n2 = n1 x V2 543.9 m 3
= 0.0183 mol SF6 x = 3.39 mol SF6
V1 2.93 m3

mass SF6 = 3.39 mol SF6 x 146.07 g SF6 / mol = 496 g SF6
 Boyle’s Law : Balloon

Problem V:
• A balloon has a volume of 0.55 L at sea
level (1.0 atm) and is allowed to rise to an
altitude of 6.5 km, where the pressure is
0.40 atm. Assume that the temperature
remains constant (which obviously is not
true), what is the final volume of the
balloon?
 Boyle’s Law : Balloon

• P1 = 1.0 atm P2 = 0.40 atm

• V1 = 0.55 L V2 = ?

• V2 = V1 x P1/P2 = (0.55 L) x (1.0 atm / 0.40 atm)

V2 = 1.4 L
 Charles Law Problem

Problem VI:
• A sample of carbon monoxide, a poisonous
gas, occupies 3.20 L at 125 oC. Calculate the
temperature (in oC) at which the gas will
occupy 1.54 L if the pressure remains
constant.
 Charles Law Problem
• V1 = 3.20 L T1 = 125oC = 398 K
• V2 = 1.54 L T2 = ?

1.54 L
• T2 = T1 x ( V2 / V1) T2 = 398 K x 3.20 L
• = 192 K

• T2 = 192 K o
C = K - 273.15 = 192 - 273
o
C = -81.2oC
 Ideal Gases
• An ideal gas --a hypothetical gas whose
properties (P, V, and T) are completely
described by the ideal gas equation (or ideal
gas law)

• The ideal gas equation is:

PV= nRT
R = Ideal, Universal, or Molar gas constant
R = 0.08206 L atm mol-1 K-1
Boyle’s, Charles’ & Avogadro’s Laws are all combined into
a single statement called the Ideal Gas law.
law
Evaluation of the Ideal Gas Constant, R
Ideal gas Equation PV = nRT R = PV
nT

at Standard Temperature and Pressure, the molar volume = 22.4 L

P = 1.00 atm (by definition)
T = 0 oC = 273.15 K (by definition)
n = 1.00 moles (by definition)

(1.00 atm) ( 22.414 L) = 0.08206 L atm

R=
( 1.00 mole) ( 273.15 K) mol K

or to three significant figures R = 0.0821 L atm

mol K
Gas Law Calculations
 Gas Law: Solving for Pressure

Problem 1: (ydi)

Calculate the pressure in a container whose volume

is 87.5 L and it is filled with 5.038kg of xenon at a
temperature of 18.8 oC.
 Gas Law: Solving for Pressure
Plan: Convert all information into the units required, and
substitute into the ideal gas equation ( PV= nRT ).

Solution:
5038 g Xe
nXe = = 38.37014471 mol Xe
131.3 g Xe / mol

T = 18.8 oC + 273.15 K = 291.95 K

PV = nRT P = nRT
V
(38.37 mol )(0.0821 L atm)(291.95 K)
P= = 10.5108 atm
87.5 L (mol K)
= 10.5 atm
 Ideal Gas Calculation - Nitrogen

Problem 2: (ydi)

Calculate the pressure in a container holding 375 g of

nitrogen gas. The volume of the container is 0.150 m3
and the temperature is 36.0 oC.
Ideal Gas Calculation - Nitrogen

• n = 375 g N2 ÷ (28.0 g N2 / mol) = 13.4 mol N2

• V = 0.150 m3 x 1000 L / m3 = 150 L
• T = 36.0 oC + 273.15 = 309.2 K
• PV = nRT P = nRT/V

• P=
• ( 13.4 mol) ( 0.08206 L atm/mol K) ( 309.2 K)
150 L
• P = 2.26 atm
 The Atmosphere: What is in it?

• The Earth’s carbon atoms travel a constant cycle

through the atmosphere, from air to plants and
animals and back to the air again.
• Nitrogen
– Tasteless, colorless, nonflammable, relatively inert
– Nitrogen compounds are a limiting factor in plant
growth.
• Oxygen
– Oxygen reacts with glucose during respiration.
• Carbon dioxide
– Central to plant growth through photosynthesis
• Argon, neon, and helium
– Chemically unreactive
The Atmosphere:
A Layered Structure
The Carbon Cycle
 Four Sections of the Atmosphere
• Troposphere
– All Earth-bound life exists and all weather
phenomena occur here.
– Ozone exists here as a pollutant.
• Stratosphere
– Contains UV absorbing ozone.
– Ozone is a natural and necessary component of this
section.
• Mesosphere and Ionosphere
– “Falling stars” and the aurora borealis occur here.