GAS LAWS

GENERAL CHEMISTRY 1

Prepared by: Sir Marvin Kent Bandibas

 OBJECTIVE
1. define pressure and give the common units of pressure

2. express the gas laws in equation form

3. use the gas laws to determine pressure, volume, or temperature of a gas under
certain conditions of change

4. use the ideal gas equation to calculate pressure, volume, temperature, or

number of moles of a gas

5. use Dalton’s law of partial pressures to relate mole fraction and partial pressure
of gases in a mixture
HOMEWORK

Answer in 1 whole sheet of yellow paper and to be submitted on

the next meeting:

1. If 22.5 L of nitrogen at 748 mm Hg are compressed to

725 mm Hg at constant temperature. What is the new volume?

2. A gas with a volume of 4.0L at a pressure of 205kPa is

allowed to expand to a volume of 12.0L.What is the pressure in
the container if the temperature remains constant?
GUESS THE WORD!

K_L_ _N
M_L L_L I_E_S
T__R
M_L_S
GAS LAWS
Gas laws are now explained by the
microscopic behavior of gas molecules.

Many different scientists and experiments, several gas

laws have been discovered. These laws relate the
various state variables of a gas.

State Variables of a Gas

•Pressure (P) in mmHg, atm, kPa or torr
•Volume (V) in L
•Temperature (T) in K
•Amount Of Substance (n) in moles
 PRESSURE

Pressure is force per unit area, calculated by dividing the force by the area on which the
force acts.
P = F
A

The earth's gravity acts on air molecules to create a force, that of the air pushing on the
earth. This is called atmospheric pressure. The SI unit though, is the pascal.
 PRESSURE DEVICES
Digital barometer Gas Manometer

Old barometer
With Mercury

Digital
Sphygmomanometer
Sphygmomanometer
McLeod gauge
 PRESSURE
1 atmosphere (atm) is the average pressure at sea level. It is normally used as a
standard unit of pressure. For laboratory work the atmosphere is very large. A more
convenient unit is the torr.
Conversions:
101,325 pascals = 1 atm
1 atm = 760 mm Hg
1 atm = 14.70 psi
1 atm = 1.013 bar
1 atm = 760 torr
1 atm = 760 mm Hg
1 torr = 1 mm Hg

A torr is the same unit as the mm Hg (millimeter of mercury). It is the pressure that is
needed to raise a tube of mercury 1 millimeter. PSI stands for “pounds force per square
inch”.
UNDERSTANDING GAS LAW
The balloon used by Charles in his historic flight in 1783 was filled with about 1300 mole
of H2. If the outside temperature was 21 oC and the atmospheric pressure was 750 mm
Hg, what was the volume of the balloon?

given: P 750 mm Hg = 0.9868 atm

n 1300 mole H2
R 0.0821 L-atm/mol-K
T 21 C = 294 K
Required:
V ?
Solution:
V = nRT/P = 1300 moles x (0.0821 L-atm/mol-K) x 294 K
0.9868 atm
V = 31798 L or 3.2 x104 L.
 BOYLE’S LAW
Boyle's law or the pressure-volume law states that the volume of a given amount of gas
held at constant temperature varies inversely with the applied pressure when the
temperature and mass are constant.
equation 1: V ∝ 1
P

Another way to describing it is saying that their products are constant.

equation 2: PV = k where (k) is constant

 BOYLE’S LAW
When pressure goes up, volume
goes down. When volume goes
up, pressure goes down.

From the equation above, this

can be derived:

equations 3: P1V1 = P2V2

BOYLE’S LAW EXAMPLE
If the initial volume was 500 mL at a pressure of 760 torr, when the
volume is compressed to 450 mL, what is the pressure in torr? What is the
pressure in atm?

Given: P1 = 760 torr Required: P2 = ?

V1 = 500 mL
V2 = 450 mL
Solution:
P1V1 = P2V2 (760 torr) (500 mL) = P2 (450 mL)
P2 = 844 torr after compression

pressure in atm: 844 torr ( 1 atm / 760 torr) = 1.11 atm

CHARLES’ LAW
This law states that the volume of a given amount of gas held at constant pressure is
directly proportional to the Kelvin temperature.

equation 4: V ∝ T

Same as before Boyle’s Law, a constant can be put in:

equation 5: V = k’ and equation 6: V1 = V2

T T1 T2
CHARLES’ LAW

As the volume goes up, the temperature also goes up, and vice-versa.
CHARLES’ LAW
The gas was held at constant pressure. What is the final volume of the gas at 4.5 K, if
its initial volume was recorded at 340 mL at 3.1 K. Express the final volume in liters.

Given: V1 = 340 mL Required: V2 = ? L

T1 = 3.1 K
T2 = 4.5 K

Solution:
V1/T1 = V2/T2 (340 mL) = (V2) V2 = (340 mL) (3.1K)
(3.1 K) (4.5 K) (4.5 K)

V2 = 494 mL or V2 = 0.49 Liters

PRACTICE PROBLEMS

1. A gas has a pressure of 1.26 atm and occupies a volume of 7.40 L. If

the gas is compressed to a volume of 2.93 L, what will its pressure?

2. A balloon is filled with 3.0 L of helium at 310 K. The balloon is

placed in an oven where the temperature reaches 340 K. What is the
new volume of the balloon?
GAY-LUSSACS’ LAW
Also known as the Pressure-Temperature Law. This law states that the pressure of a
given amount of gas held at constant volume is directly proportional to the Kelvin
temperature. Expressed in this equation:
equation 7: P∝ T and with the constant:
equation 8: P = k’’
T
As the pressure goes up, the temperature
also goes up, and vice-versa.

Also same as before, initial and final volumes

and temperatures under constant pressure
can be calculated. It can be expressed as;
equation 9: P1 = P2
T1 T2
SAMPLE PROBLEM

1. A gas has a pressure of 699.0 mm Hg at 40.0 °C. What is the

temperature at a pressure of 760.0 mm Hg?
Given Required: T2 = ?
P1 = 699 mm Hg Solution:
T1 = 40 ° C = 313.15 K P1/T1 = P2/T2 T2 = 760 mmHg / ( 699 mmHg/ 313.15 K)
P2 = 760 mm Hg T2 = P2/ (P1/T1) T2 = 344.75 K

2. Determine the pressure change when a constant volume of

gas at 1.00 atm is heated from 20.0 °C to 30.0 °C.

Given Required: T2 = ?
P1 = 1 atm Solution:
T1 = 20 ° C = 293.15 K P1/T1 = P2/T2 P2 = (1 atm/ 293.15 K) x (303.15 K)
T2 = 30 ° C = 303.15 K P2 = (P1/T1) / T2 P2 = 1.03 atm
AVOGADROS’ LAW
The Volume Amount Law. This law
gives the relationship between
volume and amount when pressure
and temperature are held
constant. Remember amount is
measured in moles. Also, since
volume is one of the variables, that
means the container holding the gas is
flexible in some way and can expand
or contract.
AVOGADROS’ LAW
If the amount of gas in a container is increased, the volume increases. If the amount of
gas in a container is decreased, the volume decreases. It is expressed as

equation 10: V ∝ n and entering the constant, it can be expressed as

equation 11: V = k’’’ Note: n (final) = n (initial) + n (added)
n n 1 = initial # moles
equation 12: V1 = V2 n2 = final # moles
n1 n2
A 6.0 L sample at 25°C and 2.00 atm of pressure contains 0.5 mole of a gas. If an
additional 0.25 mole of gas at the same pressure and temperature are added, what is the
final total volume of the gas?
Given: n1 = 0.5 mole Gas A Solution:
n2 = 0.25 + 0.5 mole Gas A
V1 = 6.0 L V1/n1 = V2/ n2
Required:
V2 = ? V2 = n2 x V1/ n1 = 0.25 mol x (6.0 L/0.5 mol) = 9 L
COMBINED GAS LAW
Now we can combine everything we have into one proportion: using the k, k’ and k’’
PV = C V/ T = C P/T=C

It can be expressed as : equation 13: PV = K

T

equation 14: P1V1 = P2V2

T1 T2

As the pressure goes up, the temperature also goes up, and vice-versa.
Also same as before, initial and final volumes and temperatures under constant pressure
can be calculated.
IDEAL GAS LAW
The previous laws all assume that the gas being
measured is an ideal gas, a gas that obeys them all
exactly. But over a wide range of temperature,
pressure, and volume, real gases deviate slightly from
ideal. Since, according to Avogadro, the same
volumes of gas contain the same number of moles,
chemists could now determine the formulas of
gaseous elements and their formula masses.

The idea gas law is:

equation 15: PV = nRT
equation 16: n = PV/RT

where R is equal to 0.0821 L - atm

mole - K
IDEAL GAS LAW
Other Gas Laws (Ideal Gas) equations
PV = n RT since n = mass / molar mass or n = g/ MM

equation 17: PV = (g/ MM) RT

equation 18: MM = (g) (R) (T)
PV

If density (d) = m/ V ; thus the ideal gas law can also be expressed as

equation 19: P = (g/V) RT or d = g/V = P (MM)

MM R (T)

This equation provides a convenient way of determining the formula weight of a gas if
mass, temperature, volume and pressure of the gas are known (or can be determined).
UNDERSTANDING GAS LAW
The balloon used by Charles in his historic flight in 1783 was filled with about 1300 mole
of H2. If the outside temperature was 21 oC and the atmospheric pressure was 750 mm
Hg, what was the volume of the balloon?

given: P 750 mm Hg = 0.9868 atm

n 1300 mole H2
R 0.0821 L-atm/mol-K
T 21 C = 294 K
Required:
V ?
Solution:
V = nRT/P = 1300 moles x (0.0821 L-atm/mol-K) x 294 K
0.9868 atm
V = 31798 L or 3.2 x104 L.
UNDERSTANDING GAS LAW

A 0.1000 g sample of a compound with the empirical formula CHF2 is vaporized into a
256 mL flask at a temperature of 22.3 oC. The pressure in the flask is measured to be
70.5 torr. What is the molecular formula of the compound?
given: P 70.5 torr = 0.0928 atm Required: MM = ?
V 256 mL = 0.256 L
g 0.1 g
R 0.0821 L-atm/mol-K
T 22.3 C = 295.3 K
EM of CHF2 = 51.0 g/ mol
Solution:
MM = gRT/PV = (0.1 g) x (0.0821 L-atm/mol-K) x 295.3 K
(0.0928 atm) x (0.256 L)
MM = 102 g/ mol
Molar ratio = 102/51 = 2 moles, thus the molecular formula with be C2H2F4
UNDERSTANDING GAS LAW
Compare the density of He and air (with average MM = 28 g/mole) at 25.0 oC and 1.00
atm.
given: MM of He = 4.003 g/mol R = 0.0821 L-atm / mole-K
MM of air = 28.0 g/mol T = 25 oC = 298 K
Required: compare the density
Solution:
density = MM (P) / R (T)

dHe = (4.003 g / mole)(1.00 atm) / (0.0821 L-atm / mole-K)(298 K) = 0.164 g / L

dair = (28.0 g / mole)(1.00 atm) / (0.0821 L-atm / mole-K)(298 K) = 1.14 g / L

Thus density of air is higher than the density of Helium.

DALTON’S PARTIAL PRESSURE
Dalton's Law of Partial Pressures states that the total pressure of a mixture of
nonreacting gases is the sum of their individual partial pressures.
Ptotal = Pa + Pb + Pc + ... or

Ptotal = naRT / V + nbRT / V + ncRT / V + ... or

Ptotal = (na+ nb+ nc+ ... )RT / V

Partial pressures are useful when gases are collected by bubbling through water
(displacement). The gas collected is saturated in water vapor which contributes to the
total number of moles of gas in the container.
EXAMPLE PROBLEMS
A flask contains a mixture of 1.24 moles of hydrogen gas and 2.91 moles of oxygen gas.
If the total pressure is 104 kPa, what is the partial pressure of each gas in kPa?

Given: n H2 = 1.24 mol H2 PT= 104 kPa

n O2 = 2.91 mol O2 nT= 4.15 mol

Required: P H2 = ? kPa n H2 = ? kPa

First, the mole fraction of each gas can be determined. Then, the partial pressure can be calculated by
multiplying the mole fraction by the total pressure.

XH2 (mole fraction H2) = 1.24 mol = 0.299 XO2 (mole fraction O2) = 2.91 mol = 0.701
4.15 mol 4.15 mol

Since: X H2 = P H2
PT

P H2 = 0.299 × 104 kPa =31.1 kPa P O2 = 0.701 × 104 kPa = 72.9 kPa
EXAMPLE PROBLEM
The pressure of a mixture of nitrogen, carbon dioxide, and oxygen is 150 kPa. What is the partial
pressure of oxygen if the partial pressures of the nitrogen and carbon dioxide are 100 kPa and 24 kPa,
respectively?

For this example, you can simply plug the numbers into the equation and solve for the unknown
quantity.

PT = Pnitrogen + Pcarbon dioxide + Poxygen

150 kPa = 100 kPa + 24 kPa + Poxygen

Poxygen = 150 kPa - 100 kPa - 24 kPa

Poxygen = 26 kPa
EXAMPLE PROBLEM
A sample of H2 was prepared in the laboratory by the reaction:
Mg(s) + 2 HCl (aq) MgCl2(aq) + H2(g)

456 mL of gas was collected at 22.0 oC. The total pressure in the flask was 742
torr. How many moles of H2 were collected? The vapor pressure of H2O at 22.0 oC is
19.8 torr.

Given: PT 742 torr V 456 mL = 0.456 L

PH2O 19.8 torr R 0.0821 L-atm / mole-K
PH2 742 – 19.8 = 722.2 torr = 0.9503 atm T 22 oC = 295 K

Required: moles of H2
Solution: nH2 = PH2 V/ RT (based on equation 16)
= (0.9503 atm) (0.456 L) = 0.0179 moles of H2
(0.0821 L-atm / mole-K) (295 K)
PRACTICE PROBLEMS
1. A 3.80 g of oxygen gas in a pump has volume of 150 mL. constant temperature and
pressure. If 1.20g of oxygen gas is added into the pump. What will be the new volume
of oxygen gas in the pump?

2. A sample of Carbon dioxide in a pump has volume of 20.5 mL and it is at 40.0 oC.
When the amount of gas and pressure remain constant, find the new volume of Carbon
dioxide in the pump if temperature is increased to 65.0 oC.

3. At 655mm Hg and 25.0oC, a sample of Chlorine gas has volume of 750mL. How many
moles of Chlorine gas at this condition?
KINETIC MOLECULAR THEORY
By the late 19th century, scientists had begun accepting the atomic theory of matter started relating it to
individual molecules. The Kinetic Molecular Theory of Gases comes from observations that scientists
made about gases to explain their macroscopic properties. The following are the basic assumptions of
the Kinetic Molecular Theory:

1. The volume occupied by the individual particles of a gas is negligible compared to the volume of
the gas itself.
2. The particles of an ideal gas exert no attractive forces on each other or on their surroundings.
3. Gas particles are in a constant state of random motion and move in straight lines until they collide
with another body.
4. The collisions exhibited by gas particles are completely elastic; when two molecules collide, total
kinetic energy is conserved.
5. The average kinetic energy of gas molecules is directly proportional to absolute temperature
only; this implies that all molecular motion ceases if the temperature is reduced to absolute zero.
KINETIC MOLECULAR THEORY

The kinetic molecular theory can be used to

explain each of the experimentally
determined gas laws.

Boyle's Law (v = 1/P)

Gases can be compressed because most of the

volume of a gas is empty space.

The pressure of a gas becomes larger as the

volume of the gas becomes smaller.
KINETIC MOLECULAR THEORY
The kinetic molecular theory can be used to explain each of the
experimentally determined gas laws.

Charles' Law (V  T)
The average kinetic energy of the particles in a gas is proportional to
the temperature of the gas. Because the mass of these particles is
constant, the particles must move faster as the gas becomes
warmer. The volume of the gas therefore becomes larger as the
temperature of the gas increases.

Avogadro's Hypothesis (V  N)
As the number of gas particles increases, the frequency of collisions
with the walls of the container must increase. This, in turn, leads to
an increase in the pressure of the gas. Thus, the volume of the gas is
proportional to the number of gas particles.
KINETIC MOLECULAR THEORY
The kinetic molecular theory can be used to explain each of the
experimentally determined gas laws.

The Link Between P and n

The pressure of a gas results from collisions between the gas particles and
the walls of the container. Each time a gas particle hits the wall, it exerts a
force on the wall. An increase in the number of gas particles in the
container increases the frequency of collisions with the walls and
therefore the pressure of the gas.

Gay-Lussac’s Law (P  T)
The last postulate of the kinetic molecular theory states that the average
kinetic energy of a gas particle depends only on the temperature of the
gas. Thus, the average kinetic energy of the gas particles increases as the
gas becomes warmer. Because the mass of these particles is constant,
their kinetic energy can only increase if the average velocity of the
particles increases. The faster these particles are moving when they hit
the wall, the greater the force they exert on the wall. Since the force per
collision becomes larger as the temperature increases, the pressure of the
gas must increase as well.
TEST YOUR UNDERSTANDNG

TRUE or FALSE

1. The kinetic molecular theory only applies to gases.

2. The three types of motion for a gas are vibrations, rotations and translations.
3. Helium gas atoms do not vibrate at room temperature because there are no
bonds between them.
4. The collisions between air molecules use up energy and eventually make a
room cooler.
5. At 35 C, on average nitrogen molecules will move faster than nitrogen
molecules at 12  C.
6. At the same temperature helium(He) atoms move faster than those of xenon
(Xe).
PRACTICE PROBLEMS
Maybelline Cousteau’s backup oxygen tank reads 900 mmHg while on her boat, where the temperature is 27 C. When
she dives down to the bottom of an unexplored methane lake on a recently-discovered moon of Neptune, the
temperature will drop down to –183 C. What will the pressure in her backup tank be at that temperature?
solution: since V is constant; we will use Gay-Lussac’s Law formula P1/T1 = P2/T2
since one of the temp is below 0 C, I suggest to convert the temperature to Kelvin
thus; T1 (27 C) = 300 K and T2 (-183 C) = 90 K
900 mm Hg / 300 K = P2 / 90 K
P2 = 270 mm Hg
 SAMPLE PROBLEMS
50 g of nitrogen (N2) has a volume of ___ liters at STP.
solution: since at STP; 1 mol = 22.4 L
moles of N2 = 50 g x (1 mol N2) = 1.79 mol N2
28.01 g N2
volume of N2 = 1.79 mol x (22.4 L / 1 mol) = 39.99 L

What is the density of carbon dioxide at STP?

solution: since at STP; 1 mol = 22.4 L and density = mass/ volume ; atomic mass of CO2 = 44.01 g/mol
thus we need to find the mass
if 44.01 g CO2 x 1 mol CO2 = 1.96 g/L
1 mol CO2 22.4 L CO2

A gas balloon has a volume of 106.0 liters when the temperature is 45.0 °C and the pressure is 740.0 mm of mercury. What will
its volume be at 20.0 °C and 780 .0 mm of mercury pressure??
solution: since it doesn’t say anything about the moles, lets set (n) is constant; we will use
the combined gas law P1 V1 /T1 = P2 V2 /T2 ; T1 = 45 C = 318.15 K and T2 = 20 C + 273.15 = 293.15 K
(740 mmHg) (106.0 L) = (780 mm Hg) (V2)
(318.15 K) (293.15 K)
V2 = 92.66 L
RECAP
GAS LAW DEFINITION DERIVED FORMULA CONSTANT

Boyle's Law V ∝ 1/ P P1V1=P2V2 T and mass (Temperature and mass)

Charles’ Law V∝ T V1/T1 = V2/T2 P (Pressure)

Gay-Lussac’s Law P ∝ T P1/T1 = P2/T2 V and n (Volume and moles)

Avogadro’s Law V∝ n V1/n1 = V2/n2 P and T (Pressure and Temperature)

Combined Gas P1 V1/T1 = P2 V2/T2 n (moles)

Law
Conversions:
Ideal Gas Law PV = nRT PV = (g/MM) RT 101325 pascals = 1 atm
d = g/V = P (MM)/ RT 1 Pa = 0.001 KPa
1 atm = 760 mm Hg
Dalton’s Law of PT = Pa + Pb + Pc … PT = (na + nb + nc ) RT 1 atm = 14.70 psi
Partial Pressure V 1 atm = 1.01325 bar
PT = Pdry gas + Pvapor 760 torr = 1 atm
1 torr = 1 mm Hg
Pa = PT x (na/nT) at STP (std temperature and pressure)
1 mole = 22.4 L of volume
REFLECTION

How can you relate

the concept of some
Gas Laws in your
daily experiences
and encounters?
THANK YOU!
“To know the laws is not to memorize the letters but to
grasp their full-force and meaning.” - Cicero