Module 3

Ideal Gas

Introduction
Gases expand to fill whatever the shape of container is. The volume of a gas depends very
much on the pressure as well as on the temperature. The relationship that determines the relations
between the volume, the pressure, the temperature and the mass of a gas is called the ideal gas
equation.
This module deals with the different gas laws and the ideal gas equation that examine the
behavior of an ideal gas.

Learning Outcomes
After completion of this module, you should be able to:
1. Enumerate the gas laws.
2. Define the different gas laws.
3. Solve problems on gas laws.
4. Define the ideal gas equation.
5. Solve problems using the ideal gas equation.
6. Determine the specific heats of an ideal gas.
7. Determine the internal energy, enthalpy and entropy of an ideal
gas.
 Lesson 1 – The Ideal Gas Laws

An ideal gas or a perfect gas, is one in which the volume of the individual atoms (or molecules)
is negligible compared to the total volume of container. Also, because the distance between atoms is
so great, there are no forces of attraction or repulsion; thus, one atom is not affected by other atoms.
The behavior of most gases approaches that of an ideal gas, especially the low densities resulting
from low pressures and/or high temperatures.
Due to their loose molecular structures, ideal gases have properties that are generally
affected by the addition or removal of energy. A gas may change its condition in a number of different
ways and there are certain fundamental laws governing the three primary gas properties such as
pressure, temperature and volume. These relationships are analyzed by subjecting the gas into
different processes whereby one property is held constant.
The ideal gas laws are:

1. Charles’ Law (Formulated by the French physicist, Jacques Charles)

“At constant pressure, the volume of gas is directly proportional to the absolute
temperature.” Mathematically,
T1 T2
=
V1 V2

where, T1 = initial temperature of the gas

T2 = final temperature of the gas

V1 = initial volume of the gas

V2 = final volume of the gas

Example 1:

During the daytime, a balloon has a volume of 2,000mL when the temperature is 32 0C. If the
temperature dropped to 200C at night time, what will be the volume of the balloon if the pressure
remains the same?
Given: V1 = 2,000mL

T1 = 320C + 273 = 305 K

T2 = 200C + 273 = 293 K

Required: V2
T1 T2
Solution: =
V1 V2

305 K 293 K
=
2,000mL V2

V2 = 1,921.31 mL
Example 2:

A gas is heated at constant pressure until its volume reaches 1.45m3. The volume and
temperature of the gas before heating were 0.6 m 3 and 350 K, respectively. What is the resulting
temperature of the gas after heating?
Given: V2 = 1.45m3

V1 = 0.6m3

T1 = 350 K
Required: T2
T1 T2
Solution: =
V1 V2

350 K T
= 2
0.6m3 1.45m3

T2 = 845.83 K

2. Boyle’s Law (Formulated by an Irish chemist, Robert Boyle)

“At constant temperature, the volume of gas is inversely proportional to the pressure.”
Mathematically,
C
V= ; PV =C
P

P1V1 = P2V2
where P1 and P2 are the pressures in any units and V1 and V2 are the volumes in any
units.
Example 1:

A 100 L of helium gas at room temperature with a pressure of 2 atm is transferred to another
tank with a maximum capacity of only 50 L. If temperature is kept constant, what will be the pressure
of the tank after the transfer?

Given: V1 = 100L
P1 = 2 atm

V2 = 50L

Required: P2
Solution: P1V1 = P2V2

(2atm) (100L) = (P2) (50L)

P2 = 4 atm
Example 2:

A 2,500 ft3 container contains a hydrogen gas with a pressure of 900 psia. If it is required to
have a pressure of 750 psia, what is the required volume of a container to have this pressure?

Given: V1 = 2,500 ft3

P1 = 900 psia

P2 = 750 psia

Required: V2
Solution: P1V1 = P2V2

(900psia) (2,500ft3) = (750 psia) (V2)

V2 = 3,000 ft3
3. Gay-Lussac’s Law (Formulated by the French scientist, Joseph Louis Gay-Lussac)
“At constant volume, the pressure of gas is directly proportional to the absolute
temperature.”
𝑃1 𝑃2
=
𝑇1 𝑇2

where P1 and P2 are the pressures in any units and T1 and T2 are the absolute
temperatures.

Example 1:
A certain gas has a pressure of 2,500 mmHg inside a tank is cooled from 390 0F to 700F. What
will be the resulting pressure in the tank?
Given: P1 = 2,500 mm Hg
T1 = 3900F + 460 = 8500R

T2 = 700F + 460 = 5300R

Required: P2
P1 P2
Solution: =
T1 T2

2,500 mmHg P
= 2
850 R 530 R

P2 = 1558.82 mmHg
Example 2:

What is the final temperature of a certain gas initially with a pressure of 200 kPa at 212 0F if
the pressure is to be doubled?

Given: P1=200 kPa

T1 = 2120F =1000C = 373K

P2 = 2P1 =2(200 kPa) = 400 kPa

Required: T2
P1 P2
Solution: =
T1 T2

200 kPa 400 kPa

=
373K T2

T2 = 746 K

4. Combined Gas Law

This law is the combination of the gas laws.

Mathematically,
P1 V1 P2 V2
= = C, a constant
T1 T2

where P1 and P2 are the pressures in any units, V1 and V2 are the pressures in any
units and T1 and T2 are the absolute temperatures.

PV =mRT
Pv = RT, if unit mass

where, P = absolute pressure

V =volume

v = specific volume
m = mass

T = absolute temperature

R = specific gas constant or simply gas constant

Example 1:

The tire of a bike has a volume of 0.6m 3 and a pressure of 760 mmHg at 250C. If the bike is
used in the mountain where the pressure is 720 mmHg and the temperature is 20 0C, what will be the
volume of the tire?
Given: V1 = 0.6m3

P1 = 760 mmHg

T1 = 250C + 273 = 298 K

P2 = 720mmHg

T2 = 200C +273 = 293 K

Required: V2
P1 V1 P2 V2
Solution: =
T1 T2

(760mmHg)(0.6m3 ) (720 mmHg)(V2 )

=
298 K 293 K

V2 = 0.623 m3

Example 2:
A certain gas is confined in a 3.5 L container with a pressure of 3 atm at 20 0C. What is the
required temperature for it to be transferred to another container with a volume of 8.5 L and
pressure of 5.25 atm?

Given: V1 = 3.5L

P1 = 3 atm
T1 = 200C + 273 =293 K

V2 = 8.5L
P2 = 5.25 atm

Required: T2
P1 V1 P2 V2
Solution: =
T1 T2

( 3atm)(3.5L) (5.25atm)(8.5L)
=
293 K T2

T2 =1245.25K =972.250C
 Lesson 2 – The Ideal Gas Equation

The ideal gas equation applies to the situation wherein none of the three properties
(pressure, volume and temperature) remains constant. The equation was derived from the Perfect
Gas Law. The law states that when a gas goes through a process where all the three properties
(pressure, volume and temperature) change, the pressure varies directly with volume (and vice
versa), while both said properties vary inversely with temperature. Mathematically, it is written as:
P1 V1 P2 V2
= , it can also be written as,
T1 T2

PV
= C, where C is constant
T

The value of the constant C depends on the kind or amount of gas. When dealing with a
particular gas having a mass of one unit, then the total volume becomes specific volume. Denoting v
for the specific volume, then the equation van be written as;
Pv
=R
T
where v = specific volume of the gas

R = gas constant for a specific gas

Multiplying both sides by the mass, you get:
Pvm
= mR
T
Since V = mv then the equation becomes;
𝐏𝐕
=mR or PV =mRT
𝐓

This equation is the Ideal Gas Equation (sometimes called Perfect Gas Equation)

The ideal gas equation is also given by the equation;

̅T
PV =n𝐑
Where

P = absolute pressure

V = volume of the gas

n = no. of moles of gas

T = absolute temperature
 ̅ = Ideal Gas constant or Universal gas constant
R

R = gas constant for a specific gas

̅
R
R=
M

We can express the ideal gas equation in terms of mass of the gas. Using m = nM, where m is
the mass, n is the number of moles and M is the molecular mass. Substituting in the ideal gas
equation we have;
𝐦
PV = ̅T
𝑹
𝐌

Specific Heats and Individual Gas constants

Example 1:

The volume of an air inside a tank is 300L and its temperature is 40 0C. If the gauge pressure
of the air is 700 kPa. What is the mass of the air?
Given:

V = 300L = 0.3m3
T = 400C +273 = 313K
P = 700 kPa + 101.325 = 801.325 kPa absolute
 Required: mass

Solution: PV =mRT
kN
PV 801.325 2 ( 0.3m3 )
m
m= = 0.287kN−m
RT (313K)
kg−K

m = 2.68 kg

Example 2:
A 700 g methane gas (CH4) is to be contained in a 1.5-liter tank to produce a pressure of 1,000
atm. What is the required temperature?

Given: m = 700g
V = 1.5 L
P = 1,000 atm
Required: T

Solution: For the methane gas (CH4), the number of moles is,
m 700g
n= =
M M

For molecular mass

g g
Carbon =1 x 12 = 12
mol mol
g g
Hydrogen =4 x 1 =4
mol mol
g
The molecular mass of CH4 is 16
mol
700g
Thus, the number of moles n = g
16mol

n = 43.75 mol
̅T
This time, using the equation PV =nR
L−atm
1,000 atm (1.5L) = 43.75mol (0.08206 )(T)
mol−K

T = 417.81K =144.810C
Take note of this table