AVOGADRO’S LAW (Amedeo Avogadro)

“The volume of a gas is directly proportional to the number of moles at the same pressure and absolute
temperature, regardless of the nature of the gas”.

This means that as the volume increases, the number of moles also increases, and as the volume
decreases, the number of moles becomes lesser. The mathematical statement of the law is

V1 = V2

n1 n2

where n is the number of moles of the gas.

The direct relationship between V and n can be seen from a plot of V versus n below:

Practical Application of Avogadro’s Law

Avogadro’s law explains why bread and other baked goods rise. Yeast or other leavening agents cause
the production of carbon dioxide gas and ethanol. The carbon dioxide forms bubbles which appear as holes
in the dough. As the yeast continues the leavening process, the number of particles of carbon dioxide
increases, hence causing an increase in the number, or volume, of bubbles and in the size of the dough.