Chapter 14

The Behavior of Gases

The Properties of Gases
OBJECTIVES:
Explain why gases are
easier to compress than
solids or liquids are.
Section 14.1
The Properties of Gases
OBJECTIVES:
Describe the three factors
that affect gas pressure.
Compressibility
Gases can expand to fill its
container, unlike solids or liquids
The reverse is also true:
They are easily compressed, or
squeezed into a smaller volume
Compressibility is a measure of
how much the volume of matter
decreases under pressure
Compressibility
This is the idea behind placing air
bags in automobiles
In an accident, the air compresses
more than the steering wheel or
dash when you strike it
The impact forces the gas
particles closer together, because
there is a lot of empty space
between them
Compressibility
At room temperature, the distance
between particles is about 10x the
diameter of the particle
Fig. 14.2, page 414
This empty space makes gases good
insulators (example: windows, coats)
How does the volume of the particles
in a gas compare to the overall
volume of the gas?
Variables that describe a Gas
The four variables and their common
units:
1. pressure (P) in kilopascals
2. volume (V) in Liters
3. temperature (T) in Kelvin
4. amount (n) in moles
The amount of gas, volume, and
temperature are factors that affect
gas pressure.
1. Amount of Gas
When we inflate a balloon, we are
adding gas molecules.
Increasing the number of gas
particles increases the number of
collisions
thus, the pressure increases
If temperature is constant, then
doubling the number of particles
doubles the pressure
Pressure and the number of
molecules are directly related
More molecules means more
collisions, and
Fewer molecules means fewer
collisions.
Gases naturally move from areas of
high pressure to low pressure,
because there is empty space to
move into a spray can is example.
Common use?
A practical application is Aerosol
(spray) cans
gas moves from higher pressure to
lower pressure
a propellant forces the product out
whipped cream, hair spray, paint
Fig. 14.5, page 416
Is the can really ever empty?
2. Volume of Gas
In a smaller container, the
molecules have less room to
move.
The particles hit the sides of the
container more often.
As volume decreases, pressure
increases. (think of a syringe)
Thus, volume and pressure are
inversely related to each other
3. Temperature of Gas
Raising the temperature of a gas increases
the pressure, if the volume is held constant.
(Temp. and Pres. are directly related)
The molecules hit the walls harder, and
more frequently!
Fig. 14.7, page 417
Should you throw an aerosol can into a
fire? What could happen?
When should your automobile tire pressure
be checked?

Section 14.2
The Gas Laws
OBJECTIVES:
Describe the relationships
among the temperature,
pressure, and volume of a
gas.
Section 14.2
The Gas Laws
OBJECTIVES:
Use the combined gas
law to solve problems.
The Gas Laws are mathematical
The gas laws will describe HOW
gases behave.
Gas behavior can be predicted by
the theory.
The amount of change can be
calculated with mathematical
equations.
You need to know both of these:
the theory, and the math
Robert Boyle
(1627-1691)
Boyle was born into an
aristocratic Irish family
Became interested in
medicine and the new
science of Galileo and
studied chemistry.
A founder and an
influential fellow of the
Royal Society of London
Wrote extensively on
science, philosophy, and
theology.
#1. Boyles Law - 1662
Pressure x Volume = a constant
Equation: P
1
V
1
= P
2
V
2
(T = constant)
Gas pressure is inversely proportional to the
volume, when temperature is held constant.
Graph of Boyles Law page 418
Boyles Law
says the
pressure is
inverse to the
volume.
Note that when
the volume
goes up, the
pressure goes
down
- Page 419
Jacques Charles (1746-1823)
French Physicist
Part of a scientific
balloon flight on Dec. 1,
1783 was one of
three passengers in the
second balloon
ascension that carried
humans
This is how his interest
in gases started
It was a hydrogen filled
balloon good thing
they were careful!
#2. Charless Law - 1787
The volume of a fixed mass of gas is
directly proportional to the Kelvin
temperature, when pressure is held
constant.
This extrapolates to zero volume at a
temperature of zero Kelvin.

V
T
V
T
P
1
1
2
2
( constant)
Converting Celsius to Kelvin
Gas law problems involving
temperature will always require that
the temperature be in Kelvin.
(Remember that no degree sign is
shown with the kelvin scale.)
Reason? There will never be a
zero volume, since we have never
reached absolute zero.
Kelvin = C + 273 C = Kelvin - 273
and
- Page 421
Joseph Louis Gay-Lussac (1778 1850)

French chemist and
physicist
Known for his studies on
the physical properties of
gases.
In 1804 he made balloon
ascensions to study
magnetic forces and to
observe the composition
and temperature of the air
at different altitudes.

#3. Gay-Lussacs Law - 1802
The pressure and Kelvin temperature of
a gas are directly proportional, provided
that the volume remains constant.
2
2
1
1
T
P
T
P

How does a pressure cooker affect the time

needed to cook food? (Note page 422)
Sample Problem 14.3, page 423
#4. The Combined Gas Law
The combined gas law expresses the
relationship between pressure, volume
and temperature of a fixed amount of
gas.
2
2 2
1
1 1
T
V P
T
V P

Sample Problem 14.4, page 424

The combined gas law contains
all the other gas laws!
If the temperature remains
constant...
P
1
V
1
T
1
x
=
P
2
V
2
T
2
x
Boyles Law
The combined gas law contains
all the other gas laws!
If the pressure remains constant...
P
1
V
1
T
1
x
=
P
2
V
2
T
2
x
Charless Law
The combined gas law contains
all the other gas laws!
If the volume remains constant...
P
1
V
1
T
1
x
=
P
2
V
2
T
2
x
Gay-Lussacs Law
Section 14.3
Ideal Gases
OBJECTIVES:
Compute the value of an
unknown using the ideal
gas law.
Section 14.3
Ideal Gases
OBJECTIVES:
Compare and contrast real
an ideal gases.
5. The Ideal Gas Law #1
Equation: P x V = n x R x T
Pressure times Volume equals the
number of moles (n) times the Ideal Gas
Constant (R) times the Temperature in
Kelvin.
R = 8.31 (L x kPa) / (mol x K)
The other units must match the value of
the constant, in order to cancel out.
The value of R could change, if other
units of measurement are used for the
other values (namely pressure changes)
We now have a new way to count
moles (the amount of matter), by
measuring T, P, and V. We arent
restricted to only STP conditions:

P x V
R x T
The Ideal Gas Law
n =
Ideal Gases
We are going to assume the gases
behave ideally- in other words, they
obey the Gas Laws under all conditions
of temperature and pressure
An ideal gas does not really exist, but it
makes the math easier and is a close
approximation.
Particles have no volume? Wrong!
No attractive forces? Wrong!
Ideal Gases
There are no gases for which this
is true (acting ideal); however,
Real gases behave this way at
a) high temperature, and
b) low pressure.
Because at these conditions, a
gas will stay a gas!
Sample Problem 14.5, page 427
#6. Ideal Gas Law 2
P x V = m x R x T
M
Allows LOTS of calculations, and
some new items are:
m = mass, in grams
M = molar mass, in g/mol

Molar mass = m R T
P V
Prentice-Hall 2002
General Chemistry: Chapter
6 Slide 38 of 41
The Gas Constant
R =
PV

nT

= 0.082057 L atm mol
-1
K
-1
= 8.3145 m
3
Pa mol
-1
K
-1
PV = nRT
= 8.3145 J mol
-1
K
-1
= 8.3145 m
3
Pa mol
-1
K
-1
Avogadros Law
V n or V = c n
At STP ( T= 273K , P = 1 atm
1 mol gas = 22.4 L gas
At an a fixed temperature and pressure:
Density
Density is mass divided by volume

m
V
so,
m M P
V R T
D =
D = =
Distribution of Molecular Speeds
M
3RT
u
rms

R = 8.314 J/mol/K
M = Molar mass
Ums = Root mean square speed
T = Kelvin = C + 273

Ideal Gases dont exist, because:
1. Molecules do take up space
2. There are attractive forces between
particles
- otherwise there would be no liquids formed
Real Gases behave like Ideal Gases...
When the molecules are
far apart.
The molecules do not
take up as big a
percentage of the space
We can ignore the particle
volume.
This is at low pressure
Real Gases behave like Ideal Gases
When molecules are moving fast
This is at high temperature
Collisions are harder and faster.
Molecules are not next to each
other very long.
Attractive forces cant play a role.
Section 14.4
Gases: Mixtures and Movements

OBJECTIVES:
Relate the total pressure
of a mixture of gases to
the partial pressures of the
component gases.
Section 14.4
Gases: Mixtures and Movements

OBJECTIVES:
Explain how the molar
mass of a gas affects the
rate at which the gas
diffuses and effuses.
#7 Daltons Law of Partial Pressures
For a mixture of gases in a container,
P
Total
= P
1
+ P
2
+ P
3
+ . . .
P
1
represents the partial pressure,
or the contribution by that gas.
Daltons Law is particularly useful in
calculating the pressure of gases
collected over water.

Partial Pressure
P
tot
= P
a
+ P
b
+
V
a
= n
a
RT/P
tot
and V
tot
= V
a
+ V
b
+
V
a
V
tot

n
a
RT/P
tot
n
tot
RT/P
tot
= =
n
a
n
tot

P
a
P
tot

n
a
RT/V
tot
n
tot
RT/V
tot
=
=
n
a
n
tot

n
a
n
tot

=

a

Recall
Pa = Pt Xa
Pa = Paritial pressure , Pt= Total pressure, X a = Mole fraction

Collecting a gas over water one of the
experiments in Chapter 14 involves this.
Connected
to gas
generator
If the first three containers are all put into the
fourth, we can find the pressure in that container
by adding up the pressure in the first 3:
2 atm + 1 atm
+ 3 atm
= 6 atm
Sample Problem 14.6, page 434
1
2 3 4
Diffusion is:
Effusion: Gas escaping through a tiny
hole in a container.
Both of these depend on the molar
mass of the particle, which
determines the speed.
Molecules moving from areas of high
concentration to low concentration.
Example: perfume molecules spreading
across the room.
Diffusion:
describes the mixing
of gases. The rate of
diffusion is the rate
of gas mixing.
Molecules move
from areas of high
concentration to low
concentration.
Fig. 14.18, p. 435

Effusion: a gas escapes through a tiny
hole in its container
-Think of a nail in your car tire
Diffusion
and effusion
are
explained
by the next
gas law:
Grahams
8. Grahams Law
The rate of effusion and diffusion is
inversely proportional to the square root
of the molar mass of the molecules.
Derived from: Kinetic energy = 1/2 mv
2
m = the molar mass, and v = the
velocity.
Rate
A
Mass
B
Rate
B
Mass
A

=
Sample: compare rates of effusion of
Helium with Nitrogen done on p. 436
With effusion and diffusion, the type of
particle is important:
Gases of lower molar mass diffuse and
effuse faster than gases of higher molar
mass.
Helium effuses and diffuses faster than
nitrogen thus, helium escapes from a
balloon quicker than many other gases!
Grahams Law