Properties of

Gases
Outline

 Properties of gases
 Gas laws
 Boyle’s Law
 Charles’s Law
 Avogadro’s Law
 The Ideal Gas (Law) Equation
 Gas Mixtures
 Kinetic Molecular Theory of Gases
 Real Gases
 Uses of gases

 Fueling Purposes
 Transport and Preservation of Food and Beverages
 Enables advanced electronics (pneumatic valves)
 Water Purifier
 Cleaning Purposes (sandblasting)
 Medicinal Purposes
 Properties of gases
Gases differ from solids and liquids in the following
ways:

• A sample of gas assumes both the shape and volume of the container.
• Gases are highly compressible.
• The densities of gases are much smaller than those of liquids and
solids and are highly variable depending on temperature and
pressure.
• Gases form homogeneous mixtures (solutions) with one another
in any proportion.
• The individual molecules of gases are relatively far apart.
• In atmospheric air, molecules take up only about 0.1% of the total
volume.
Two models are used to study the properties of
gases

Ideal gases Non-ideal (Real) gases

No intermolecular There are intermolecular
forces among forces among gas
molecules. molecules.
 Real gases behave as ideal (perfect) gases
• at very high temperatures.
• at zero pressure
• When the pressure is low, intermolecular forces are
insignificant.
• In practice, normal atmospheric pressure at sea level
• (P ̴100 kpa) is low enough for most real gases to behave
as ideal gases.
 Boyle’s Law

The volume of a sample of gas at constant temperature

varies inversely with the applied pressure.

The mathematical relationship:

1
V 
In equation form: P

PV = constant
PiVi = PfVf
Figure A shows the plot of V
versus P for 1.000 g O2 at
0°C. This plot is nonlinear.
Figure B shows the plot of
(1/V) versus P for 1.000 g O2
at 0°C. This plot is linear,
illustrating the inverse
relationship.
 Absolute temperature

A graph of V versus T is linear. Note that all lines cross zero volume at
the same temperature, -273.15°C.
5|9
The temperature -273.15°C is called absolute zero. It is the
temperature at which the volume of a gas is hypothetically zero.

This is the basis of the absolute temperature scale, the Kelvin

scale (K).

5 | 10
 Charles’s Law

The volume of a sample of gas at constant pressure is

directly proportional to the absolute temperature (K).

The mathematical relationship:

V T
In equation form: V
= constant
T
Vi Vf
=
Ti Tf
5 | 11
 Combined Gas Law

The volume of a sample of gas at constant pressure is

inversely proportional to the pressure and directly
proportional to the absolute temperature.

T
The mathematical relationship: V
P
PV
In equation form: = constant
T
PiVi PfVf
=
Ti Tf
5 | 12
 Avogadro’s Law

Equal volumes of any two gases at the same temperature and

pressure contain the same number of molecules.

Avogardro’s Hypothesis:
The volume of a gas maintained at constant temperature and
pressure is directly proportional to the number of molecules of
the gas.

V n
V = Constant × n

5 | 13
 The Ideal Gas (Law) Equation

The gas laws can be combined into a general equation that

describes the physical behavior of all gases.
1
V V  T V  n
P
Boyle’s law Charles’s law Avogadro’s law

nT
V
P

nT
V =R rearrangement PV = nRT
P
R is the proportionality constant, called the universal gas constant
(molar gas constant).
 The Ideal Gas Equation
The gas constant (R) is the proportionality constant and its value
and units depend on the units in which P and V are expressed.

PV = nRT
 Standard Temperature and Pressure (STP)

STP are a reference conditions for gases chosen by convention

Pressure is 1 atm

Temperature is 0°C (273.15 K)

The volume occupied by one mole of an ideal gas is then 22.41 L:

PV = nRT

(1 mol)(0.08206 L  atm/K mol)(273.15 K)

V= = 22.41 L
1 atm
 Standard Temperature and Pressure
(STP)
The molar volume, Vm, of a gas at STP is 22.4 L/mol.

The volume of the yellow box

is 22.4 L. To its left is a
basketball.

5 | 17
 Gas Density and Molar Mass

Using the ideal gas law, it is possible to calculate the moles in 1 L

at a given temperature and pressure. The number of moles can
then be converted to density (grams per liter).

To find molar mass, find the moles of gas, and then find the
ratio of mass to moles.

n
=
P m nMm = PMm dRT
PV = nRT or d= = or Mm =
V RT V V RT P

5 | 18
Gas Mixtures

Dalton found that in a mixture of unreactive gases,

each gas acts as if it were the only gas in the
mixture as far as pressure is concerned.

Since the pressure of a pure gas at constant V and T is

directly proportional to its amount (P=nRT/V), the pressure
contributed from each individual gas in a mixture is directly
proportional to its amount in the mixture.

5 | 19
Originally (left), flask A contains He at 152 mmHg and flask B
contains O2 at 608 mmHg. Flask A is then filled with oil forcing
the He into flask B (right). The new pressure in flask B is 760
mmHg
5 | 20
Partial Pressure
The pressure exerted by a particular gas in a mixture

Dalton’s Law of Partial Pressures

The total pressure exerted by a mixture of gases in a container at

constant V and T is equal to the sum of the partial pressure of
each individual gas in the container.

P = PA + PB + PC + . . .

Where PA, PB, PC …. refer to the pressure, each individual gas

would have, if it were alone.

5 | 21
 Dalton’s law of partial pressures
The pressure exerted by a particular gas in a mixture, PA, PB, PC is called partial pressure
and refer to the pressure each individual gas would exert if it were alone in the container.
That is,

PA = nA RT PB = nB RT PC = nC RT
Vtot ......and so forth.
Vtot Vtot

Since all the gases in the mixture have the same T and V

Ptot = (nA +nB + nC +....) RT Here V = VA=VB = V tot

Vtot

The concentration of any individual component in a gas mixture is

usually expressed as mole fraction (X). The mole fraction of a
component in a mixture is the fraction of moles of that component
in the total moles of gas mixture.
 Mole fraction (X) = Moles of component
Total moles in mixture
The mole fraction of component A , for example, is
nA = nA
XA =
nA+ nB + nC + ..... ntotal

But since n= PV/RT, we can also write

PA Vtot PA
RT =
XA =
Vtot Ptot
Ptot
RT
Which can be rearrange to solve PA, the partial pressure of
component A:
PA = XA ·Ptot
E.g. A 1.00L sample of dry air at 25 °C and 786 mmHg contains
0.925 g of N2, plus other gases. (a) What is the partial pressure
of N2 in the air sample? (b) What is the mole fraction and mole
percent of N2 in the air?
0.925gN2 x 1mol N2 = 0.330 molN2
28.0g N2
PN2 = nN2RT/V
= 0.330molx0.0821 Latm/(K mol) x 298K
1.00L
= 0.807 atm (=613mmHg)
(b) Mole fraction of N2 = PN2 = 613mmHg = 0.780
P 786mmHg

Air contains 78.0 mole percent of N2

 Kinetic Molecular Theory of Gases
.

Courtesy Christy Johannesson www.nisd.net/communicationsarts/pages/chem

• The Ideal Gas Law is an empirical
relationship (i. e. It is based on
experimental observations). It
describes the behaviour of gases.

• Kinetic Molecular Theory is a simple

model that attempts to explain the
reasons for the behavior of gases.
 The Kinetic Molecular Theory of Gases
• A pure gas consists of a large number of identical molecules separated by
distances that are large compared with their size. The volumes of the
individual particles can be assumed to be negligible (zero).

• The molecules of a gas are constantly moving in random directions with a

distribution of speeds. The collisions of the particles with the walls of the
container are the cause of the pressure exerted by the gas.

• The molecules of gas exert no forces on one another except during collisions, so
that between collisions they move in straight lines with constant velocities.

• Do not attract or repel each other

• The collisions of the molecules with each other and with the walls of the
container are elastic; no energy is lost during a collision.

• The average kinetic energy of a collection of gas particles is assumed to be

directly proportional to the temperature (in Kelvin) of the gas.
 Molecular Velocities
According to kinetic-molecular theory, the speeds of molecules in a gas vary
over a range of values. A British physicist James C. Maxwell showed it theoretically.

molecules sorted by speed

Fractions of molecules

many different molecular speeds

the Maxwell speed distribution

speed

http://antoine.frostburg.edu/chem/senese/101/gases/slides/sld016.htm
 Distribution of Molecular Speeds
It has been demonstrated experimentally.

This distribution of speeds depends on the temperature.

 Speed Distribution

ump =Most probable speed

uavg = Average (Mean) speed
urms =Root mean squre speed

Temperature is a measure of the average kinetic energy of gas

molecules.
 Distribution of Molecular Speeds

Ump =Most probable speed

Uavg = Average (Mean) speed

Urms =Root mean squre speed

Ump : Uavg : Urms = 1.000 : 1.128: 1.225

Because of the frequent collisions, there is a continual change in
speed of individual gas molecules.

Therefore, interchange of momentum between molecules occur.

According to the graphs:

- curves are not symmetrical
- the fraction of molecules having very low speeds or
very high speeds is nearly zero (not zero)

As the temperature increases:

- the most probable speed increases
- the number of molecules having higher speeds increases
Molecular Speeds

v
N = Number of molecules
i
Vi = speed of the ith molecule
K = Boltzmann constant
v= i=1
N
M = Molar mass

v = Average (Mean) speed 8kT

v=
πm

8RT
v=
πM
  i
v 2

v2 = i=1
N

 i
v 2

v rms = v 2 = i=1
N

3RT
v =
2

3RT
v rms = v = 2
M
Change of the distribution of molecular speeds
with molar mass at a constant temperature
 Example
At a certain speed, the root-mean-square-speed of the molecules of
hydrogen in a sample of gas is 1055 ms-1. Compute the root-mean
square speed of molecules of oxygen at the same temperature.
 Example
At a certain speed, the root-mean-square-speed of the molecules of
hydrogen in a sample of gas is 1055 ms-1. Calculate the root-mean
square speed of molecules of oxygen at the same temperature.

Strategy
1. Find T for the H 2 gas with a u rms 3RT
rms =
O2
u
= 1055 ms-1 M O2

( )Mu H2
rms
2
H2
 u 2H M H 
3R  2 2

T=  3R 

3R u Orms2 =
M O2
2. Find urms of O2 at the same
u 2H2 M H2
temperature u Orms2 =
M O2
H2 about 4 times velocity of O2
(1005)2 (2)
u O2
rms = = 264.8ms −1
32
Gas Properties Relating to the Kinetic-Molecular Theory

Diffusion Effusion

• Diffusion is the migration of molecules as a result of random molecular

motion. The diffusion of two or more gases results in an intermingling of the
molecules and, in a closed container, soon produces a homogeneous mixture.
• Effusion is the escape of gas molecules from their container through a tiny
orifice or pinhole. The rate at which effusion occur is directly proportional to
molecular speeds.

The rate of diffusion and effusion increases

- as the temperature is increased
- as the molar mass decreases
(Because, the molecular speeds increase)
Graham’s law of effusion
 At a given pressure and temperature, the rate of effusion of a gas is
inversely proportional to the square root of its molar mass.

Consider two gases at constant temperature and pressure.

rate of effusion A = (urms)A = 3RT/MA = MB

rate of effusion B (urms)B 3RT/MB MA

The limitation for Graham’s Law:

It can be used to describe effusion only for gases at very low pressure, so that
molecules escape through a pinhole individually, not as a jet of gas. Also, the
hole has to be tiny so that no collisions occur as molecules pass through.
When compared at the same temperature, two different gases have the
same value of kinetic energy.

ek = 1/2 m u2
This means that molecules with a smaller mass (m) have a higher
speed.

When comparing the effusion of two gases at the same condition

a ratio of
(1) molecular speeds
(2) effusion rates
= ratio of two molar mass
(3) effusion times
(4) distance traveled by molecules
(5) amount of gas effusion
 Real Gases
A gas behaves as an ideal gas at low pressure and high temperature.

PV = nRT
PV
= 1.0
nRT

Behaviour of 1 mol of several gases at 300 K.

The curve for CO2 is at 313 K, because it liquefies under high P
at 300 K
 Compression factor (Z)
= (molar volume of the real gas)/(molar volume of the perfect gas)
Z = Vm(real) / Vm(Ideal)

Vm(Ideal) = RT/P

Z = PVm(real) /RT

At low pressures:
-For some gases (CH4, N2, CO2, NH3), Z < 1
i.e. their molar volumes < Vm(Ideal)
- Negative deviations from the ideal behavior
-This is because of the attractive interactions among
molecules
Ideal Gases have Z=1
At high pressures:
-For these gases (CH4, N2, CO2, NH3), Z > 1
i.e. their molar volumes > Vm(Ideal)
- Positive deviations from ideal behaviour
-This is because of the repulsive interactions among
molecules (Molecules take apart when they are forced to
be closed together.)

For H2 at all pressures:

-Z>1
- A positive deviation
-This is because, repulsive interactions among
molecules are dominating (Attractive interactions are so
weak)
 For 1 mole of a gas at three different temperatures.

As the temperature increases, the gas more closely approaches

the ideal behaviour.
Differences Between Ideal and Real Gases

Ideal Gas Real Gas

Obey PV=nRT Always Only at very low
P and high T
Molecular volume Zero Small but
nonzero
Molecular attractions Zero Small

Molecular repulsions Zero Small

 Real Gases

❖Real molecules do take up space and do interact

with each other (especially polar molecules).

❖Need to add correction factors to the ideal gas

law to account for these.
Ideally, the VOLUME of the molecules was neglected:
Ar gas, ~to scale, in a box 3nm x 3nm x3nm

at 1 atm Pressure

at 10 atm Pressure

at 30 atm Pressure
However, since real gases do have volume, we need:

Volume Correction
❖ The actual volume free to move in is less
because of particle size.
❖ More molecules will have more effect.
❖ Corrected volume V’ = V – nb
❖ “b” is a constant that differs for each gas.
 Pressure Correction
❖Because the molecules are
attracted to each other, the
pressure on the container will be
less than ideal.
❖Pressure depends on the
number of molecules per liter.
❖Since two molecules interact,
the effect must be squared.
n
Pobserved = P-a ( ) 2
V
 Van der Waal’s equation
n 2
[Pobs + a ( ) ] (V − nb) = nRT
V

Corrected Pressure Corrected Volume

❖ “a” and “b” are

determined by experiment
❖ “a” and “b” are
different for each gas
❖ bigger molecules have larger “b”
❖ “a” depends on both
size and polarity