UTAR

FHSC1114 Physical Chemistry

Trimester 1

Topic 4: Gases  Boyle’s Law and Charles’s Law

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Introduction:

Boyle's Law states that the volume of a given mass of gas sample is inversely
proportional to the pressure applied to the gas if the temperature is kept constant.

P x V = constant
P1 V1 = P2 V2

Charles’s Law states that the volume of a given mass of gas sample is directly
proportional to its absolute temperature, if the pressure is kept constant.
V
= constant
T
V1 V2

T1 T2

The data collected from the experiment can be plotted on graphs in order to see the
relationship between volume and pressure and the relationship between volume and
temperature.

Apparatus and Equipments:

Syringe (25 mL) Pressure Gauge
Beaker (500 mL) Thermometer
Plastic tubing Lubricating oil
Hot water bath Retort stand
Burette Clamp Hotplate

Procedures:

Part 1 – Boyle’s law

1. Pull the syringe plunger to 20 mL mark.

2. Connect the end of the syringe to the plastic tubing.
3. Connect the other end of the plastic tubing to the pressure gauge. (Make sure all of
the tubing are sealed securely)
4. Record the pressure when the syringe plunger is at 20 mL.
5. Reduce the volume in the steps of 2.5 mL until the 5 mL mark and record the pressure
for each.
6. Plot a graph of pressure (P) versus volume (V) and pressure (P) versus inverse of
volume (1/V).

Lab manual version 4.0

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UTAR
FHSC1114 Physical Chemistry
Trimester 1

Part 2 – Charles’s law

1. Prepare about 400 mL of warm water in a beaker that is placed on top of a hotplate.
2. Lubricate the syringe plunger with oil to ensure smooth sliding in the syringe tube.
3. Pull the plunger to 5 mL mark and seal the end of the syringe.
4. At 50 ˚C, immerse the syringe tube in the warm water by adjusting the height of the
burette clamp holding it. Wait about 1 minute for the air in the syringe to come to the
same temperature as the water.
5. Record the water temperature and the volume on the syringe.
6. Increase the water temperature to 55 ˚C (wait about 1 minute for equilibrium to
occur) and record the water temperature and volume on the syringe.
7. Repeat step 6, by increasing the temperature in the steps of 5 ˚C until 80 ˚C.
8. Plot a graph of volume (V) versus temperature (˚C).

Treatment of data:

Part 1 – Boyle’s law

Volume (mL) Pressure (kPa)
20.0
17.5
15.0
12.5
10.0
7.5
5.0

Calculation:
1. Determine the relationship of volume and pressure and find the proportionality
constant, k.
2. Based on your data, what would be the pressure to be if the volume of the syringe was
increased to 45 mL? Show the calculation steps.

Part 2 – Charles’s law

Temperature(˚C) Volume (mL)
50
55
60
65
70
75
80

Lab manual version 4.0

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UTAR
FHSC1114 Physical Chemistry
Trimester 1

Calculation:
1. Determine the relationship of volume and temperature and find the proportionality
constant, k.
2. Based on your data, postulate the x-intercept and y-intercept.

Lab manual version 4.0

Foundation in Science 13