Chapter 5: Gas Laws

5.1 Objective
5.2 Introduction
5.3 Particles Arrangement and Gas Properties
5.4 Boyles Law
5.5 Charless Law
5.6 Combined Gas Law
5.7 Avogadros Law
5.8 Ideal Gas Law
5.9 Molar Mass and Gas Density
5.10 Daltons Law
5.11 Grahams Law
5.12 Exercise Questions
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5.1 Objectives
At the end of lecture on this chapter, students will
be able
to explain the arrangement of
particles/molecules and properties of gases,

to explain Boyle, Charles, Avogadro, Combined

Gas, Ideal Gas, Dalton and Graham Laws,
to solve numerical problems on gas laws.

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5.2 Introduction
Elements (light blue) that exist as gases at 25 oC
and 1 atmosphere

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Some Substances Found as Gases

at 1 atm and 25 oC

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5.3 Particles Arrangement

and Properties of Gas
In the gas phase, particles/molecules are
relatively far apart and move randomly compare
to liquid and solid phases.
This makes gases very compressible and
expandable to fill the volume of its container.
Gases exert a pressure on the walls of their
container.
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Collisions cause
Pressure
The pressure of a gas is caused by the
collision of molecules against the sides of
the container. The force of the collision
against the container can be calculated
by Newtons Second Law of Motion:

F = ma
where F = force, m = mass in kg and a is
the acceleration in m/s2.

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Pressure
Pressure is defined as force, F
per unit area, A:

P=F
A
Pressure units:
1 pascal (Pa) = 1 N/m2
1 atm = 760 mmHg = 760 torr
1 atm = 101,325 Pa = 101.325 kPa
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Atmospheric Pressure
The atmospheric pressure can be measured using a barometer.
The standard atmosphere is defined as the pressure exerted by
a mercury column of exactly 76 cm in height when the
density of mercury equals 13.6 g/cm3.
Units of Standard Atmospheric Pressure
1.00 atm
76 cm Hg = 760 mm Hg = 760 torr

101.325 kPa
1.01325 bar
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Problem 1

If the barometer reads 753.3 mm Hg, what is

the atmospheric pressure in (i) atm and (ii) kPa?
Solution:

1atm
(i) 753.3 mm Hg X 760 mm Hg = 0.9912 atm
(ii) 0.9912 atm X 101.325 kPa =100.4 kPa
1 atm

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 The gas laws are experimental relationships among

pressure (P ), volume (V ), temperature (T ), and
moles (n) for individual gas.
All gases behave similarly. The gas laws assume
ideal behavior that one exhibits simple linear
relationships among volume, pressure, temperature
and gas quantity .
Gases only approach ideal behavior at low pressure
(< 1 atm) and high temperature

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Units You Have To Be Familiar

When Using Gas Laws
Pressure: atm, mmHg, torr, Pa

1 atm =760 mmHg =760 torrs =101,325 Pa =101.325 kPa

Volume: L = dm3, mL = cc = cm3, m3

1 L = 1 dm3 = 1000 cc =1000 cm3 =1000 mL

Temperature : Kelvin, K where T(K) =T( oC)+273

Gas quantity : Mole, n where
mass (g)
n=
molar mass (g/mole)
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Lord Kelvin proposed an absolute temperature scale

defined by:
T(K) = T(OC) + 273

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Standard Temperature Pressure (STP)

Known as standard state.
The values are P = 1 atm, T = 273 K.
Applied to all gases at ideal state.

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5.4 Boyles Law

In 1662, Robert Boyle discovered that volume is inversely
proportional to pressure (V 1/P )
Boyles Law states that at constant temperature (T ) the
volume (V ) of a fixed amount of gas (n) is inversely
proportional to its pressure (P ).

V 1/P ; when P V and if P V

So, PV = k (k is a constant)
For initial (1) and final (2) states:

P1V1=P2V 2
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Graphs of:
(b) 1/V vs P

(a) V vs P

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PROBLEM 3
A sample of chlorine gas occupies a volume of 946 mL at a
pressure of 726 mmHg. What is the pressure of the gas (in
mmHg) if the volume is reduced at constant temperature to
154 mL?
SOLUTION:

P1V1= P2V2
P2= ?

P1 = 726 mmHg
V1 = 946 mL
P2=

V2= 154 mL

P1x V1 = 726 mmHg x 946 mL

= 4460 mmHg
154
mL
V2
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Chemistry in Action:
Scuba Diving and the Gas Laws

Depth (ft)

Pressure
(atm)

33

66

V
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5.5 Charless Law

Charles discovered that volume is directly
proportional to temperature.
At constant pressure and fixed amount of gas:

V T or V = kT
where k is a proportionality constant.
For initial (1) and final (2) states

V1 V 2
V2
V1
or
=
=k =
T1 T 2
T1
T2
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Graph of Volume vs Temperature

A linear relationship between V
and T.
This relationship between
volume and temperature
describes a direct relationship.
This means when temperature
increases, so does the volume.
T , V
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The volume of a gas extrapolates to zero at

-273 C. This must be the lowest temperature
possible.

Absolute zero
(0 K)
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Variation of Gas Volume with

Temperature at Constant Pressure.

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PROBLEM 4
A sample of carbon monoxide gas occupies 3.20 L at 125 0C.
At what temperature will the gas occupy a volume of 1.54 L if
the pressure remains constant?
SOLUTION:

V1 = 3.20 L

T 1 =125 + 273=398 K

V1 V 2
=
T1 T 2
T2 = V 2 x T1 =

V1

V2 = 1.54 L

T 2=?

1.54 L x 398 K
3.20 L
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= 192 K

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PROBLEM 5
A sample of a gas at 15 C and 1 atm has a volume
of 2.58 L. What volume will the gas occupy at 38 C
and 1 atm?
SOLUTION:

V1 = 2.58 L

V2 = ?

T1 =15 + 273=288 K T2 = 38 + 273 = 311 K

V1 V 2
=
T1 T 2

V2 =
=

V 1 x T2
T1
2.58 L x 311 K
288 K
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= 2.79 L
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5.6 The Combined Gas Law

The combined gas law was derived from Boyles and
Charless Laws at constant quantity of gas.
A direct relationship was observed.
As temperature increased, volume increased. As volume
increased pressure decreased.
This resulted in a combined formula to calculate changes
observed in a gas due to changes in either temperature,
pressure or volume.

PV
P2V 2
1 1
=
(n constant)
T1
T2
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where 1 and 2 are initial and

final states

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PROBLEM 6
A sample of a gas at 15C and 2.0 atm has a volume of 2 mL.
What volume will the gas occupy at 38C and 1 atm?

SOLUTION:
P1 = 2.0 atm
P2= 1 atm
V1 = 2 mL
V2 = ?
T1 = (15+273) K =288 K T2 = (38+273) K = 311 K

PV
PV
P2V 2
1 1T 2
1 1
V 2 =
=
P2T1
T1
T2

2.0 atm x 2 mL x 311 K

=
= 4.32 mL
1 atm x 288 K
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5.7 Avogadros Law

Gases are usually measured by volume so a relationship
between volume and number of moles is needed.

In 1811, Avogadro proposed that:

Equal volumes of gases at the same temperature
and pressure contain equal numbers of molecules .
It follows that the volume of a gas at constant
temperature and pressure is proportional to the number
of moles.

V n (at constant T and P )

For initial (1 ) and final (2 ) state,

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V1 V 2
=
n1 n2
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Avogadros Law
Equal volumes of gases at the same temperature
and pressure contain equal numbers of molecules

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5.8 Ideal Gas Equation

Boyles law: V 1 (at constant n and T )
P
Charless law: V T (at constant n and P )

Avogadros law: V n (at constant P and T )

nT
Combining: V
P

nT
nT
or V = constant x
=R
P
P

R is the gas constant

So, PV = nRT
This is the ideal gas equation
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Ideal Gas Constant, R

Experiments show that at STP, 1 mole of an ideal gas
occupies 22.4 L in volume

PV = nRT R =

PV
nT

(1 atm)(22.4 L)
= 0.0821 L.atm/mol.K
=
(1 mol)(273 K)
R has other values for other sets of units.
R = 82.05 mL.atm/mol.K
= 8.314 J/mol.K
= 1.987 cal/mol.K
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PROBLEM 7
How many moles of N2 are in a 750 mL vessel at
26C and 625 mm Hg?

PV
SOLUTION:
PV = nRT n =
RT
1L
V = 750 mL

= 0.750 L
1000 mL
1 atm
P = 625 mm Hg
= 0.822 atm
760 mm Hg
T = 26 + 273 = 299 K
0.822 atm x 0.750 L
PV
n=
RT =
0.0821 L.atm x 299 K

= 0.0251 mol

mol.K

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PROBLEM 8

What is the volume (in liters) occupied by 49.8 g of HCl at STP?

SOLUTION:

P = 1 atm

nRT
PV = nRT V =
P

T = 0 0C = 273 K

n = 49.8 g x

1 mol HCl
36.5 g HCl

= 1.36 mol

1.36 molx0.0821

V=

L.atm
mol.K

1 atm

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x 273 K

= 30.48 L

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5.9 Density and Molar Mass of Gas

Different gases have the same volume at STP, but they

have different masses.

From ideal gas equation:

m
m PM
=
PV = nRT = RT or
M
V RT
m PM
Density of gas, d

V RT
dRT
Molar mass of gas, M
P

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m : mass of gas in gram (g)

d : density in gram/liter (g/L)
M : molar mass in gram/mol
(g/mol)

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PROBLEM 9
What are the densities of N2 and He at STP ?
SOLUTION:

28

mol x 1 atm
MP
N2: d =
=
= 1.250 g/L
atm.L
RT
0.0821
x 273 K

mol.K

4 g
mol

x 1 atm

MP
He: d =
=
RT
0.0821atm.L x 273 K
mol.K
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= 0.1786 g/L

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PROBLEM 10
A 2.10 L vessel contains 4.65 g of a gas at 1.00 atm and
27.0 0C. What is the molar mass of the gas?

SOLUTION:

dRT
M=
P

4.65 g
m
d=
=
= 2.21
V
2.10 L

M=

2.21

g
L

g
L

x 0.0821

Latm
molK

x 300 K

1 atm

= 54.6 g/mol

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Use of Ideal Gas Law in Gas

Stoichiometry
PROBLEM 11
What is the volume of CO2 (in liter) liberated at 370 0C and 1.00
atm when 5.60 g of glucose are used up in the reaction
C6H12O6(s) + 6O2 (g) 6CO2(g) + 6H2O(l)
SOLUTION:

(i) Check the balancing of the chemical equation:

C6H12O6(s) + 6O2(g) 6CO2(g) + 6H2O(g) : OK
If not, firstly you have to balance chemical equation.
(ii) Write the stoichiometry:
1 mol C6H12O6 + 6 mol O2 6 mol CO2+ 6 mol H2O
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(iii) Use the schematic to convert the given data into mole/gram

Amount of C6H12O6 used = 5.60 g

Mole of C6H12O6 used = 5.60 g C6H12O6 x

1 mol C6H12O6
= 0.0311 mol
180 g C6H12O6

From the stoichiometry 1 mol of C6H12O6 producing 6 mol CO2 .

Therefore 0.0311 mol producing
6 mol CO2
0.0311 mol C6H12O6 x
= 0.187 mol CO2
1 mol C6H12O6

(iv) Use the ideal gas law to calculate the volume of CO2 in liter
V=

nRT
=
P

Latm
x 643 K
molK
1.00 atm

0.187 mol x 0.0821

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= 9.85 L

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5.10 Daltons Law of Partial

Pressure

Gases mix together uniformly.

Total pressure depend on the individual/partial pressure of the

gas components.
Daltons Law states that the total pressure of a mixture of
gases is the sum of the partial pressures of the components of
the mixture.

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Gas Mixtures
Consider a mixture of gas 1, gas 2 and gas 3 with n1, n2
and n3 are the number of mole respectively.

Partial pressure is the pressure of the individual gas

would exert if it were the only gas present.

P1 for gas 1 P2 for gas 2 and P3 for gas 3

If the gases in a mixture behave ideally then,

RT
P1 = n1
,
V

RT
P2 = n2
V

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RT
and P3 = n3
V

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 Since Pt = P1 + P2 + P3, then

RT
RT
RT
Pt = n1
+ n2
+ n3
V
V
V
RT
= (n1 + n2 + n3 )
V
RT
= nt
V

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PROBLEM 12
What are the partial and total pressures of 2.00 g H2
and 8.00 g N2 in a 10.0 L vessel at 273 K?
SOLUTION:

mol H
2 = 1.00 mol H2
H2: 2.00 g H2
2gH
2
mol N2
N2: 8.00 g N2
28 g N2

= 0.286 mol N2

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PH 1.00 mol x

0.0821 atm.L x 273 K

mol.K

= 2.241 atm

10.0 L

PN 0.286 mol x
2

0.0821 atm.L x 273 K

mol.K
10.0 L

= 0.641 atm

Ptotal = PH2 + PN2 = 2.242 + 0.641 = 2.882 atm

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Mole Fractions
The ratio of partial pressure to total pressure can
be expressed as:

P1
Pt

n 1 RT
V
n t RT
V

n 1 = X1 mole fraction of gas1

nt

The mole fractions in a mixture must sum to 1:

X 1 + X 2 + ... n1 + n2 + ... ( n 1 + n 2 + . . . ) = 1
nt nt
nt
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PROBLEM 13

On a 25C day with 100% humidity, the mole fraction

of H2O vapor is 0.031. What is the partial pressure of
H2O vapor? What is the mole fraction of H2O if the
relative humidity is 60%?
SOLUTION:

(i)PH O X H O Patm = 0.031 760 mmHg = 24 mmHg

2

(ii)PH O = 24 mmHg 0.60 = 14 mmHg

2

XH O =
2

14 mmHg
760 mmHg

= 0.018
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Measuring Gases
To measure the amount of gas produced in a reaction,
it is often collected over water.

Reaction of magnesium with HCl:

Mg(s) + 2 HCl(aq) MgCl2(aq) + H2(g)

Pgas PH + PH O
2

= Patm

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PROBLEM 13
The reaction of a sample containing Mg with
excess HCl at 22C and 753.2 mmHg yielded
1207 mL of gas. What was the mass of Mg?
SOLUTION:
T = 22C:

=19.83 mmHg

= 753.2 mmHg - 19.83 mmHg

1 atm
= 733.4 mmHg 760
mmHg
= 0.965 atm
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The mass in gram?

T(K) = 22C + 273 = 295 K
V(L)=1207 mL

1L
= 1.207 L
1000 mL

0.965 atm x 1.207 L

PV

n
=
RT
atm L x 295 K
0 .0821 mol K
= 0.0481 mol H2

24 .3 g Mg
= 0.0481 mol Mg 1 mol Mg

= 1.17 g Mg
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PROBLEM 14
A student generates oxygen gas and collects it over water. If
the volume of the gas is 245 mL and the barometric pressure
is 758 torr at 25oC, what is the volume of the dry oxygen gas
at STP?
SOLUTION:
Pwater = 23.8 torr at 25oC; PO2 = Pbar - Pwater = (758 - 23.8)
= 734.2 torr
P1= PO2 = 734.2 torr; P2= SP = 760 torr
T1= 298 K ; T2= 273 K ; V1= 245 mL ; V2= ?
(V1P1/T1) = (V2P2/T2)
V2= (V1P1T2)/(T1P2) = (245 mL)(734.2 torr)(273 K)
= 217 mL
(298 K)(760 torr)
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