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GAY-LUSSAC’S LAW ACTIVITY SHEET

The person who is credited with the determination of the temperature – pressure relationship in gases
at constant volume is Joseph Louis Gay-Lussac. He deduced that the pressure of the gas is
DIRECTLY PROPORTIONAL to its temperature. This means that when the temperature of gases
increases its pressure also increases or vice versa. Hence, we can state the Gay-Lussac’s Law as:
At constant volume, the pressure of a fixed mass of gas is directly proportional to the absolute
temperature.

Gay-Lussac’s law can be expressed mathematically as:

P 𝜶 T at constant Volume

It is can be written as:

𝑷
P=kT or 𝒌= 𝑻

Since there is a direct proportionality between the pressure and temperature of gases at constant
volume, it can be shown in this equation:
𝑷𝟏 𝑷𝟐
=
𝑻𝟏 𝑻𝟐

NOTE: Always remember that to get KELVIN (K), you simply add 273.15 to ℃.

Sample Problem #1:

The pressure of a nitrogen gas inside a rigid tank is 1.5 atmosphere at 30℃. What will be the resulting
pressure if the tank is cooled to 0℃?

Given:
P1 = 1.5 atm
T1 = 30℃ + 273.15 = 303.15 K
P2 = ?
T2 = 0℃ + 273.15 = 273.15 K

Formula:

𝑷𝟏 𝑷𝟐
=
𝑻𝟏 𝑻𝟐

Solution:

1.5 𝑎𝑡𝑚 𝑃2
=
303.15 𝐾 273.15 𝐾

𝑃1 𝑇2
𝑃2 =
𝑇1
 (1.5 𝑎𝑡𝑚)(273.15 𝐾 )
𝑃2 =
303.15 𝐾

409.73 𝑎𝑡𝑚
𝑃2 =
303.15

𝑷𝟐 = 𝟏. 𝟑𝟓 𝒂𝒕𝒎
(the temperature decreased, so the pressure also decreases)

Answer this problems in a one whole sheet of paper:

1. A certain light bulb-containing argon has a pressure of 1.20atm at 18°C. If it will be heated to
85°C at constant volume, what will be the resulting pressure? Is it enough to cause sudden
breakage of the bulb?

2. At 20°C a confined ammonia gas has a pressure of 2.50 atm. At what temperature would its
pressure be equal to 760 mmHg?

3. The helium tank has a pressure of 650 torr at 25°C.What will be the pressure if the temperature
is tripled?

4. Determine the pressure change when a constant volume of gas at 1.00 atm is heated from
20.0°C to 30°C.

5. A gas has a pressure of 0.370 atm at 50.0°C. What is the pressure at standard temperature?