BOYLE’S LAW states that the volume of a gas is inversely proportional to the pressure of the

gas when the temperature is held constant. This example problem uses Boyle's law to find the
volume of gas when pressure changes.

Boyle's Law Example Problem

A balloon with a volume of 2.0 L is filled with a gas at 3 atmospheres. If the pressure is
reduced to 0.5 atmospheres without a change in temperature, what would be the volume of
the balloon?

Solution:
Since the temperature doesn't change, Boyle's law can be used. Boyle's gas law can be
expressed as:
PiVi = PfVf
where
Pi = initial pressure
Vi = initial volume
Pf = final pressure
Vf = final volume

To find the final volume, solve the equation for Vf:

Vf = PiVi/Pf
Vi = 2.0 L
Pi = 3 atm
Pf = 0.5 atm
Vf = (2.0 L) (3 atm) / (0.5 atm)
Vf = 6 L / 0.5 atm
Vf = 12 L

Answer:

The volume of the balloon will expand to 12 L.

CHARLE’S LAW PROBLEM

Solved Examples
Question 1: Earlier we found that volume of oxygen can be obtained from a particular tank at 1.00atm and 21oC is 785L (including
the volume remaining in the tank). What would be the volume of oxygen if the temperature had been 28 oC?
Solution:

Ti = (21 + 273)K = 294K

Tf = (28 + 273)K = 301K

Following is the data table:

Vi = 785L Pi = 1.00atm
Ti = 294K
Vf = ? Pf = 1.00atm Tf = 301K
Note that T varies and P remains constant, so V must change. These are the conditions needed to apply Charles Law.

Vf = Vi × TfTi

Vf = 785L × 301K294K = 804L

Question 2: A gas occupies a volume of 200cm3 at 0oC and 760 mm Hg. What volume will it occupy at 100oC and 760
mm Hg?
Solution:
Since the pressure is constant, there is a problem in which only the temperature is changed. We can solve by
substituting in the Charles law formula, provided we convert the Celsius temperatures to absolute temperatures. Only
the absolute temperatures can be used in calculations involving gases.

V1 = 221cm3; T1 = 273K (0 + 273); T2 = 373K (100 + 273)

Now we use the formula

Charles Law Formula

221 cm3V2 = 273K373K

V2 = 221 cm3×373K273K = 302 cm3

Gay-Lussacs Law Problems

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Solved problems based on Gay-lussac's law are given below.

Solved Examples
Question 1: The pressure of a container of helium is 650 torr. If the sealed container is cooled to 0 oC, what will the
pressure be?
Solution:

Since the container is sealed, the volume does not change. Remember that temperature must be in kelvins.

P1 = 650 torr; T1 = 25oC = 298K; T2 = 0oC = 273K

Solving for P2
Since the problem is concerned only with temperature and pressure.
Gay-Lussac's law can be used

P2 = [650 torr][273K]298K[650 torr][273K]298K = 595 torr

Question 2: If we have a tank of gas at 1.520 torr pressure and a temperature of 300K and it is heated to 500K. What is
the new pressure in atmospheres?
Solution:

Convert the initial pressure to atmospheres.

1520 torr11520 torr1 ×× 1 atm760 torr1 atm760 torr = 2.00atm

Solve for P2 in Gay-Lussac's law

P2 = P1T2T1P1T2T1

Substitute the values

P2 = [2.00 atm][500K]300K[2.00 atm][500K]300K = 3.33atm.