Graphical Explanation of Boyle’s Law:

Boyle’s law can be represented graphically in three different ways as described below:
1. Plot between P and V:
a. Consider a particular amount of gas is enclosed in a cylinder having a moveable piston in it.
When pressure of the gas is varied, keeping the temperature constant at 0 oC, its volume is also
changed. If a graph is plotted between pressure on the x-axis and volume on the y-axis, a curve
is obtained as shown in fig (a) which shows that volume is inversely proportional to the pressure.
“The pressure –volume curve obtained at any constant temperature is called isotherm.” Fig.
b. At higher constant temperature of 25 o C, another graph is plotted for the same gas. The curve
or isotherm obtained, goes away from both the axes, as shown in fig (b). The reason is that at
higher temperature, the volume of the gas has increased at same values of pressure, hence
points of the curve goes away from the both axes. Fig.
Similarly, if we increase the temperature further, and again plot another isotherm, it further goes away
from the axes and produces the same result.
2. Plot between P and 1/V (inverse of volume):
a. At constant temperature T1, if a graph is plotted between the reciprocal or inverse of volume
(1/V) on x- axis and pressure (P) on the y-axis, then a straight line is obtained which meet at the
origin where both p and 1/V are zero. Thus we can say that when P goes to zero, then V is so
high that its inverse volume (1/V) is very close to zero. Fig.
b. At higher constant temperature T2, another graph is again plotted between inverse of volume
(1/V) on x- axis and pressure (P) on the y-axis, then another straight line closer to the pressure
axis is obtained, which also meet at the origin. The reason is that inverse of volume becomes
smaller, at higher pressure and temperature. Fig.
3. Plot between P and PV (product of PV):
a. At a constant temperature T1, if a graph between P on x-axis and the product PV on y-axis, a
straight line parallel to x-axis is obtained. This straight line shows that PV remains constant even
if we change pressure.
b. At higher constant temperature T2, the value of product of PV is increased due to greater volume.
But with the increase in pressure volume is decreased in such a way that PV remains constant.
The graph plotted between P on x-axis and the product PV on y-axis, again gives a straight line
parallel to x-axis but above to the straight line obtained at T1. Fig.

Absolute Zero and its derivation:

Definition:
“The hypothetical temperature of -273.16 oC or 0K at which the volume of a given mass of a gas become
zero is termed as absolute zero.”
Explanation:
In order to derive absolute zero of temperature consider the following quantitative statement of
Charles’s law.
“At constant pressure, the volume of a given mass of gas increases or decreases by 1/273 of its original
volume at 0 oC for every 1 oC rise or fall in temperature respectively.”
The general equation used to know the volume of the gas at various temperatures is given by;
𝑻
𝑽𝑻 = 𝑽𝑶 ( 𝟏 + )
𝟐𝟕𝟑
Suppose the original volume Vo of the gas is 546 cm3 at 0 oC, if the temperature is increased to 1 oC
then the increase in volume at this temperature which is calculated as follow;
𝟏
𝑽𝑻 = 𝟓𝟒𝟔 ( 𝟏 + )
𝟐𝟕𝟑
𝟐𝟕𝟒
𝑽𝑻 = 𝟓𝟒𝟔 ( )
𝟐𝟕𝟑
𝑽𝑻 = 𝟓𝟒𝟖 𝒄𝒎𝟑
Hence, the original volume is increased to 548 cm3 on increasing the temperature by 1 oC.
Charles’s Law is not obeyed at Celsius scale:
Let a gas has volume (V1) 566cm3,at a temperature(T1) of 10 oC, if the temperature is increased to
100 oC (T2), then volume is increased to 746cm3(V2), as calculated from above equation
Applying the Charles’s Law,
 𝑽𝟏 𝑽𝟐
=
𝑻𝟐 𝑻𝟐
𝟓𝟔𝟔 𝟕𝟒𝟔
≠
𝟏𝟎 𝟏𝟎𝟎

The two ratios are not equal. So, Charles’s law is not being obeyed when temperature is measured on
the Celsius scale. For this reason a new temperature scale has been developed. The new temperature
scale starts from-273 oC (more precisely -273.16 oC) which is called zero Kelvin (0 K) or zero
absolute. The advantage of this scale is that all the temperatures on this scale are in positive figures.

Graphical Explanation of Charles’s Law: (Derivation of Absolute Zero)

In order to develop the new temperature scale, the best way is to plot a graph between the variables of
Charles’s law i.e. V and T , keeping the pressure of a given mass (say 1 mole) of a gas constant.
 Lowest possible temperature: When the temperature of a gas is varied, its volume is changed. If
a graph is plotted between temperature (oC) on x-axis and volume on y-axis, a straight line is
obtained, this straight line cuts the temperature-axis (x-axis) at -273. 16 oC only if it is extrapolated.
This temperature is the lowest possible temperature, which is attainable only if the substance
remains in the gaseous state so it is favorable for Ideal gases only. Fig.
 Effect of the mass of gas taken on plot: If many plots of this type are examined. It is found that a
given gas follows different straight lines for different masses of gas and for different pressures.
Greater the mass of gas taken, greater will be the slope of the straight line. The reason is that
greater the number of moles, greater will be the volume occupied. All these straight lines when
extrapolated will meet at a common point of -273.16oC (0k).
Fig.
 Absolute zero or zero point (0K): It is clear that the temperature of -273.16 oC will be attained only
when the volume becomes zero. It can be zero for an ideal gas, but for the real gas zero volume is
impossible. Actually, all non-ideal or real gases first converted into liquid and then into solids before
reaching this temperature, due to creation of strong attractive forces among their molecules. Thus
-273.16 oC represents the coldest temperature. It is called as absolute zero or zero point (0K) for
an absolute scale of temperature.
Hence, Charles’s law is obeyed when the temperature is taken on the Kelvin scale. For example, if
temperature of a gas is increased from 283K (10 oC) to 373K (100 oC), then volume is increased from
566 cm3 to 746 cm3. According to Charles’s law.

𝑽𝟏 𝑽𝟐
= =𝒌
𝑻𝟐 𝑻𝟐
𝟓𝟔𝟔 𝟕𝟒𝟔
= =𝟐=𝒌
𝟐𝟖𝟑 𝟑𝟕𝟑

Hence, Charles’s law is obeyed.