LESSON 1: GAS LAWS

Factors that Affect the Behavior of Gas

1. Pressure is defined as the force exerted per unit area; it is the force that is exerted by the gas.
 The SI unit of pressure is 1 newton per square meter or pascal (Pa).
 Atmospheric Pressure (atm) is the exerted pressure of Earth’s atmosphere.
 The standard atmospheric pressure (STP) is 1 atm that is equal to the pressure that supports one mole of any ideal
gas taking up 22.4 L at 0 ºC.
 1 atm = 760 mmHg
1 mmHg = 1 torr
1 atm = 760 torr
1 atm = 101, 325 Pa
1 atm = 101.325 kPa

2. Temperature pertains to the measurement of the speed of particles while moving inside an object.
 The SI unit of temperature is Kelvin (K).
 The absolute temperature scale that is introduced by Lord Kelvin in 1848, identified that -273.15 ºC is the absolute
zero and theoretically it is the lowest attainable temperature.

3. Volume refers to the amount of space an object takes up.

4. Number of particles

Gas Laws
1. Boyle’s Law (Pressure-Volume Relationship) states that pressure is inversely proportional to the volume of a gas at a
constant temperature.
 Robert Boyle shows that there is a significant change on the volume of gas as the pressure changes, wherein the
pressure increases as the volume decreases and vice versa.
 Formula: P1V1 = P2V2
Sample Problem:
If a gas occupies 3.60 liters with a pressure of 1.00 atm, what will be its volume at a pressure of 2.50 atm?
Given: Formula: Solution:
P1 = 1.00 atm P1V1 = P2V2 V2 = (1.00 atm)(3.60 L)
P2 = 2.50 atm 2.50 atm
V1 = 3.60 L V2 = 1.44 L
V2 = ?

2. Charle’s Law (Volume-Temperature Relationship) states that a volume of a fixed amount of gas is directly proportional
to its absolute temperature at a constant pressure.
 Alexandre Cesar Charles shows that as the temperature increases, the volume also increases; conversely, as when
the temperature decreases, the volume also decreases.
 Formula: V1T2 = V2T1
Sample Problem:
What is the temperature of a 150 L gas, if its original volume was 300 L at 400 K?
Given: Formula: Solution:
V2 = 150 L V1T2 = V2T1 T2 = (150 L)(400 K)
V2 T1
T1 = 400 K T2 = V 300 L
1
V1 = 300 L T2 = 200 K
T2 = ?

3. Gay-Lussac’s Law states that the pressure of a gas of fixed mass and fixed volume is directly proportional to the gas’
absolute temperature.
 Joseph Gay-Lussac shows that as the temperature of a gas increases, then so does its pressure if the mass and
volume of the gas are held constant.
 Formula: P1T2 = P2T1
Sample Problem:
A gas has a pressure of 0.370 atm at 300 K. What is the pressure at 298 K?
Given: Formula: Solution:
T1 = 300 K P1T2 = P2T1 P2 = (0.370 atm)(298 K)
P1 T2
T2 = 298 K P2 = T 300 K
1
P1 = 0.370 atm P2 = 0.368 atm
P2 = ?
4. Avogadro’s Law (Volume-Amount Relationship) states that the volume of gas at a constant temperature and pressure
is directly proportional to the number of moles of gas present.
 Amadeo Avogadro shows that for a given mass of an ideal gas, the volume and amount of the gas are directly
proportional if the temperature and pressure are constant.
 Formula: V1n2 = V2n1
Sample Problem:
6.2 liters of an ideal gas has 0.73 mole. How many moles of this gas are present if .8 liters of the same gas
is added?
Given: Formula: Solution:
V1 = 6.2 L V1n2 = V2n1 n2 = (8 L)(0.73 mol)
V2 n1
V2 = 8 L P2 = 6.2 L
V1
n1 = 0.73 mol n2 = 0.94 mol
n2 = ?

5. Combined Gas Law (Pressure-Volume-Temperature Relationship), a combination of Boyle’s Law, Charle’s Law, and Gay-
Lussac’s Law states that volume is inversely proportional to its pressure and directly proportional to its absolute
temperature.
 Formula: P1V1 = P2V2
T1 T2
Sample Problem:
A gas-filled balloon having a volume of 2.5 L at 1.2 atm and 25 ºC is allowed to rise to a height where the
temperature and pressure are -23 ºC and 0.39 atm, respectively. Calculate the final volume of the balloon.
Given: Formula: Solution:
V1 = 2.5 L P1V1 = P2V2 V2 = (1.2 atm)(2.59 L)(250 K)
P1 = 1.2 atm T1 T2 (0.39 atm)(298 K)
T1 = 25 ºC +273 = 298 K V2 = 6.45 L
P2 = 0.39 atm
T2 = -23 ºC + 273 = 250 K
V2 = ?

6. Ideal Gas Law illustrates the relationship among the pressure, volume, temperature, and moles of gas.
 Formula: PV = nRT
Sample Problem:
How many moles of an ideal gas are there if the volume of the gas is 146 L at 14 ºC and a pressure of 3.45
atm?
Given: Formula: Solution:
V = 146 L PV = nRT n = (3.45 atm) (146 L)
P1 = 3.45 atm (0.0821 atm•L/mol•K)(287 K)
T1 = 14 ºC +273 = 287 K n = 21.40 mol
R = 0.0821 atm•L/mol•K
n=?