I.

Objectives
1. To familiarize the students with gas laws
2. To compute for the molar mass of an unknown gas using the ideal gas equation

II. Introduction
Gases have three characteristic properties: (1) they are easy to compress, (2) they expand
to fill their containers, and (3) they occupy far more space than the liquids or solids from
which they form [1].

An ideal gas [2] is defined as one in which all collisions between atoms or molecules are
perfectly elastic and in which there are no intermolecular attractive forces. An ideal gas
can be characterized by three state variables: absolute pressure (P), volume (V), and
absolute temperature (T). The relationship between them may be deduced to the
equation [1]:
pV = nRT
where n is the number of moles and R is universal gas constant which is 8.3145 J/mol K

The molecular weight [4] of a gas can be determined using the ideal gas equation. This is
derived by using the value of the number of moles (n). ‘n’ is defined by mass/molar mass
or m/M.
pV = (mRT)/M
By isolating M, the equation becomes:
M = (mRT)/pV

By manipulating the equation of ideal gas, it can concluded that pressure is inversely
proportional to volume and directly proportional with temperature. As volume increases,
pressure is lowered and as the value of temperature increases, pressure also increases
[3].

In this experiment, it is necessary to put a drying tube in between the gas-generating

material and the gas burette because the gas-generating material also produces water. To
prevent any water from entering the gas burette, drying tube will be used [3]. Also, the
volume of gas will be determined by the water displacement in the gas burette. As the gas
enters the glass burette, the water is displaced into the leveling bulb where the meniscus
of the water level is the volume of the produced gas [3].

[1] Purdueedu. The Properties of Gases. [Online]. Available from:

http://chemed.chem.purdue.edu/genchem/topicreview/bp/ch4/properties2.html [Accessed 12
November 2018].

[2] Gsuedu. Ideal Gas Law. [Online]. Available from: http://hyperphysics.phy-

astr.gsu.edu/hbase/Kinetic/idegas.html [Accessed 12 November 2018].

[3] San Esteban A, Yanza E. Modern Experiments in General Chemistry I. 10th ed. 2018 Aug.

[4] Lumenlearningcom. Ideal Gas Law. [Online]. Available from:

https://courses.lumenlearning.com/boundless-chemistry/chapter/the-ideal-gas-law/ [Accessed 12
November 2018].