Berfin ŞAK

Molar Weight Determination of an Ideal Gas

Purpose: In this experiment an unknown ideal gas will be enclosed in a variable volume and
the variation of pressure with the change in the volume is recorded at constant temperature.
From the P vs 1/V graph, molar weight will be calculated.
Apparatus and Chemicals
Chemical: an unkown gas (1.0 g)

Figure 1 . Experimental set-up.

Procedure
1. Set up the experiment as shown in Figure 1.
2. Adjust the temperature of the thermostat (water bath) to 30°C.
3. The P-V isotherms of 1.0 g unknown gas should be measured at this temperature.
4. Carefully turn the handwheel anti-clockwise down to the lower stop, so that the
mercury surface is certainly below the inner opening of the valves.
5. Remove all residues of gas from the pressure chamber. To achieve this, evacuate the
chamber for at least 30 minutes, so that any gas which might have been dissolved in the
mercury is removed.
6. Fill the apparatus with gas. When connecting the gas container, it is necessary to
prevent any potentially disturbing remnant air from the chamber. Connect the gas
container, open the inlet valve a little, and rinse out any remaining air. Close the inlet
valve and again evacuate the pressure chamber. After pumping for about 2 minutes, close
the outlet valve and open the inlet valve to allow gas to flow into the chamber. Close the
inlet valve.
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7. Remove the gas container and vacuum pump. The apparatus is now ready for use.
8. The pressure of the gas can be controlled using a mercury column. Perform a pressure
reading for every 0.2 ml of volume difference. Read and record the exact pressure shown
by the manometer.
9. Collect data at different volumes and fill in the table 1. When you finish the
experiment the piston must be lowered fully (i.e. the wheel turned as far anticlockwise as
possible)

Treatment of Data
Plot P-1/V graph, from the slope , it is known from ideal gas equation that slope is equal to
nRT, calculate molar weight of gas.
slope = nRT
n= m/Ma

Data Sheet
Table 1 : P-V isotherms

Volume (cm3) Pressure (105 Pa)

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