IT’S A GAS…

IT’S A GAS…
 The Nature of Gases

Gases have some interesting

characteristics that have
fascinated scientists for 300
years.
The first gas to be studied was
air & it was a long time before it
was discovered that air was
actually a mixture of particles
rather than a single gas.
 The Nature of Gases
But this realization did not
make the study of gas behavior
more difficult.
Although air is a mixture of
several different gases, it
behaves
Regardlessmuch the same
of their as any
chemical
single gas.
identity, gases tend to exhibit
similar physical behaviors
 The Nature of Gases
Gas particles can be monatomic
(Ne), diatomic (N2), or
polyatomic (CH4) – but they all
have these characteristics in
1) Gases have mass.
common:
2) Gases are compressible.
3) Gases fill their containers.
4) Gases diffuse
5) Gases exert pressure.
6) Pressure is dependent on
 Kinetic Molecular
Theory
There is a theory that
modern day chemist’s use to
explain the behaviors and
characteristics of gases - the
Kinetic Molecular Theory of
Matter.
• The word kinetic refers to
motion.
• The word molecular refers
 Kinetic Molecular
Theory
The theory states that the
tiny particles in all forms of
matter in all forms of matter
are in constant motion.
This theory is used to explain
the behaviors common
among gases
There are 3 basic
assumptions of the KMT as it
 KMT Assumption #1
A gas is composed of small
hard particles.
The particles have an
insignificant volume and are
relatively far apart from one
another.
There is empty space
between particles.
No attractive or repulsive
 KMT Assumption #2
The particles in a gas move
in constant random motion.
Particles move in straight
paths and are completely
independent of each of other
Particles path is only
changed by colliding with
another particle or the sides
of its container.
 KMT Assumption #3
All collisions a gas particle
undergoes are perfectly
elastic.
No energy is lost from one
particle to another, and the
total kinetic energy remains
constant.
 Gases have mass.
• Gases seem to be weightless,
but they are classified as
matter, which means they
have mass.
• The density of a gas – the
mass per unit of volume – is
much less than the
density of a liquid or
solid, however.
 Gases have mass.
It’s this very low density that
allows us to be able to walk
through the room without
concerning ourselves with air
resistance.
Since it is so easy to “swim”
across the room we don’t put
much thought into the mass of
a gas.
Really it is only noticeable if
The Kinetic-Molecular theory
explanation of it is that we
assume that gases are
composed of a collection of
particles.
You can’t see these particles
directly, so they are very
tiny, and to notice any mass
you must weigh a collection
of the particles.
It is usually necessary to
have a mole or more of gas
particles to have significant a
 2 – Gases “R”
nd

squeezable
If you squeeze a
gas, its volume
can be reduced
considerably
A gases low
density allows
for there to a lot
of empty space
between gas
Gas particles have a high
velocity, relative to their
masses.
This gives them a lot of
energy and movement.
The movement causes the
gases to spread out, which
leaves a lot of space between
molecules.
That empty space can be
compressed by pressure
allowing gas particles less
This empty space can be
compressed simply by adding
pressure.
We can use this ability of a
gas to do work for us.
Think of a shocks on a car.
You really are riding on a
pillow of air.
A bump in the road
compresses the gas in the
shocks until the bump’s
energy is absorbed.
 3rd
– Gases fill their
containers
Gases expand until they take
up as much room as they
possibly can.
Gases spread out to fill
containers until the
concentration of gases is
uniform throughout the entire
space.
This is why that nowhere
The Kinetic-Molecular theory
alludes to this by the fact that
these particles are in constant
random motion.
Gases move in a straight line
until it they collide with other
particles or the sides of the
container, which causes them to
change directions until they
collide with something else.
This bouncing off of everything
around them spread the
particles out until they are
uniform throughout the entire
If I opened up a bag of
popcorn in front of the class
you would soon be able to
smell it in the back.
The popcorn smell is a high
energy molecule or group of
molecules that is in the gas
state.
There are really two
properties going on here:
- This property of gases
spreading out until they
have filled the room
- And the property of diffusion
4 th
– Gases diffuse
Gases can move through each
other rapidly.
The movement of one
substance through another is
called diffusion.
Because of all of the empty
space between gas molecules,
another gas molecule can pass
between them until each gas is
The same logic from the
observation that gases spread
out applies here.
If the gases are in constant
random motion the fact that
they are moving and colliding
with everything around them
then they will mix with other
gases uniformly.
This doesn’t happen at the
same speeds for all gases
though.
Some gases diffuse more
rapidly then other gases based
Diffusion explains why gases
are able to spread out to fill
their containers.
It’s why we can all breath
oxygen anywhere in the room.
It also helps us avoid
potential odoriferous
problems.
 5th
– Gases exert
pressure
Gas particles exert pressure
by colliding with objects in
their path.
The sum of
all of the
collisions
makes up
the
pressure
The Kinetic-Molecular theory
alludes to this by the fact that
these particles are colliding
with anything in their path.
Imagine a gas in a container as
a room of hard rubber balls.
The collisions of the balls
bouncing around exert a force
on the object that with which
they collide.
The definition of a pressure is a
force per unit area – so the total
of all of the tiny collisions
makes up the pressure exerted
The gases push against the
walls of their containers with a
force.
The pressure of gases is what
keeps our tires inflated, makes
our basketballs bounce, makes
hairspray come out of the can,
etc.
6th – Pressure depends on
Temp
The higher the temperature of
a gas -the higher the pressure
that the gas exerts
The reverse of that is true as
well, a the temperature of a
gas decreases – the pressure
decreases.
Think about the pressure of a
Today’s temp: 35°F
Pressure
Gauge
Today’s temp: 85°F
Pressure
Gauge
6th – Pressure depends on
Temp
The reverse of that is true as
well, a the temperature of a
gas decreases – the pressure
decreases.
Think about the pressure of a
set of tires on a car
Do you recall the definition of
temperature?
- the average kinetic energy of
the particles that make up an
object
The higher the temperature
the more the energy
The more the energy the
more impacts the gases
administer
The more the impacts or
collisions the more the
The pressure increases when
temperature increases because
the molecules are moving with
greater speed and colliding
against the sides of their
containers more often.
Therefore, the pressure inside
that container is greater,
because there are more
collisions.
 Measuring Gases
The conditions under which a gas
is studied is very important to its
behavior.
Experimental work in chemistry
requires the measurement of
such quantities as volume,
temperature, pressure, and the
amount of sample.
These quantities are called
variables and if they are not
accounted for then the results of
 Gas variables
In order to describe a gas
sample completely and then
make predictions about its
behavior under changed
conditions, it is important to
1) amount
deal of gas
with the values of:
2) volume
3) temperature
4) pressure
 Amount (n)

The quantity of gas in a given

sample expressed in terms of
moles of gas.
This of course is in terms of
6.02 x 1023 molecules of the
gas.
Don’t forget to convert mass to
moles you just divide by the
 Volume (V)

The volume of the gas is simply

the volume of the container it is
contained in.
The metric unit of volume is the
liter (L)
There might also be problems
that use cubic meters as the
unit for volume.
- 1 L = 1 dm3
 Temperature (T)

The temperature of a gas is

generally measured with a
thermometer in Celsius.
All calculations involving gases
should be made after
converting the Celsius to Kelvin
temperature.
Kelvin = C° +
 Pressure (P)
The pressure of a gas is the
force exerted on the wall of the
container a gas is trapped in.
There are several units for
pressure depending on the
instrument used to measure it
1) atmospheres
including:
2)(atm)
Millimeters of Mercury
3)(mmHg)
Kilopascal (kPa)
 S
STTP
P
The behavior of a gas depends
very strongly on the temperature
and the pressure at which the
gas is held.
To make it easier to discuss the
behavior of a gas, it is
convenient to designate
- Temperature = 0°C or called
standard conditions, 273K STP.
- Pressure = 1atm or 760mmHg or
 Atmospheric
Pressure
The gases in the air are exerting
a pressure called atmospheric
pressure
Atmospheric pressure is a result
of the fact that air has mass is
and is attracted by gravity
producing a force.
Knowing this atmospheric
pressure and predicting changes
in the atmospheric pressure is
 Atmospheric
Pressure
Atmospheric pressure varies
with altitude
- the lower the altitude, the
longer and heavier is the
column of air above an area of
the earth.
Look on the back of a box of
cake mix for the difference in
baking times based on the
Atmospheric Pressure
Low pressure or dropping
pressure indicates a change of
weather from fair to rain.
High pressure is an
indication of clear
skies and sun.
It all has to do with
the amount of air
pressing down on us.
 Gas Laws
Studies of the behavior of gases
played a major role in the
development of physical
sciences in the 7th and 8th
centuries.
The Kinetic Molecular theory
marked a significant
achievement in understanding
the behavior of gases.
Observations have become
 Boyle’s Law
Robert Boyle was among the
first to note the relationship
between pressure and volume
of a gas.
He measured the volume of air
at different pressures, and
observed a pattern of behavior
which led to his mathematical
law.
During his experiments
 As the
pressure
increases

Volume
decreases
 How does Pressure and
Volume of gases relate
graphically?

PV = k
Volume

Temperature,
# of particles
remain constant

Pressure
 Boyle’s Mathematical Law:
What if we had a change in conditions
condition

since PV = k
P 1 V1 = P 2 V2
Eg: A gas has a volume of 3.0
L at 2 atm. What is its volume
1)determine which variables
you have:
 P11 = 2 atm
 V11 = 3.0 L
 P22 = 4 atm
 V22 = ?
2)determine which law is
being represented:
P and V = Boyle’s Law
3) Rearrange the equation
for the variable you don’t
know P V = V
1 1
1 1 2
2

P22
4) Plug in the variables
and chug it on a
calculator:
(2.0 atm)(3.0L) = V22
(4atm)
V2 = 1.5L
1. Oxygen gas inside a 1.5 L
gas tank has a pressure of
0.95 atm. Provided
that the temperature remains
constant, how much pressure
is needed to
reduce its volume by ½?
2. A scuba diver needs a
diving tank in order to
provide breathing gas while
he is underwater. How much
pressure is needed for 6.00
liters of gas at
1.01 atmospheric pressure to
be compressed in a 3.00 liter
cylinder ?
3. A sample of fluorine gas
occupies a volume of 500 mL
at 760 torr. Given
that the temperature remains
the same, calculate the
pressure required
to reduce its volume by 1/3.
 Charles’s Law
Jacques Charles determined the
relationship between
temperature and volume of a
gas.
He measured the volume of air
at different temperatures, and
observed a pattern of behavior
which led to his mathematical
law.
During his experiments
 Volume of Volume of
balloon at balloon at 5°C
room
temperature
How does Temperature and
Volume of gases relate
graphically?

V/T = k
Volume

Pressure,
# of particles
remain constant

Temp
 Charles’s Mathematical Law:
What if we had a change in conditions
condition
since V/T = k

V1 V2
=
T1 T2
Eg: A gas has a volume of 3.0 L
at 127°C. What is its volume at
1)determine which variables
you have:
 T11 = 127°C + 273 =
400K
 V11 = 3.0 L
 T22 = 227°C + 273 =
2)determine
5ooK which law is
being represented:
 V22 = ?
T and V = Charles’s Law
4) Plug in the
variables:
3.0L V22
400K = 500K
5) Cross multiply and
chug
(500K)(3.0L) = V22 (400K)

V22 = 3.8L
1. A cylinder with a
movable piston contains
250 cm3 air at 10°C. If the
pressure is kept constant,
at what temperature would
you expect the volume
to be 150 cm3?
2. A tank ( not rigid)
contains 2.3 L of helium
gas at 25°C. What will be
the volume of the tank
after heating it and its
content to 40°C
temperature at
constant pressure?
3. At 20°C, the volume of
chlorine gas is 15 dm3.
Compute for the
resulting volume if the
temperature is adjusted to
318K provided that the
pressure remains the
same.
 Gay Lussac’s Law
Old man Lussac determined the
relationship between
temperature and pressure of a
gas.
He measured the temperature
of air at different pressures, and
observed a pattern of behavior
which led to his mathematical
law.
During his experiments volume
 Think of a tire...

Car before a trip Pressure

Gauge
Let’s get on
the road
Dude!
 Think of a tire...

Car after a long trip Pressure

Gauge

WHEW!
 How does Pressure and
Temperature of gases relate
graphically?

P/T = k
Pressure

Volume,
# of particles
remain constant

Temp
 Lussac’s Mathematical Law:
What if we had a change in conditions
condition
since P/T = k

P1 P2
=
T1 T2
Eg: A gas has a pressure of 3.0
atm at 127º C. What is its
1)determine which variables
you have:
 T11 = 127°C + 273 =
400K
 P11 = 3.0 atm
 T22 = 227°C + 273 =
2)determine which law
500K
is being represented:
 P22 = ?
T and P = Gay-Lussac’s Law
 4) Plug in the
variables:
3.0atm P22
400K = 500K
5) Cross multiply and
chug
(500K)(3.0atm) = P22 (400K)

P22 = 3.8atm
1. A certain light bulb
containing argon has a
pressure of 1.20 atm 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?
 Henry’s Law
William Henry discovered that
at a fixed temperature, the
quantity of the dissolving gas in
a liquid depends on the
pressure of that gas above the
liquid.
He stated that solubility of a
gas in a liquid is directly
proportional to the partial
pressure of the gas above the
 Henry’s Law
C = kPgas
where
•C is the solubility of a gas at a
fixed temperature in a particular
solvent (in units of M or m gas/L)
•K is Henry's law constant (often
in units of M/atm or g/L . atm)
•Pgas is the partial pressure of the
gas (often in units of atm)
1. If 27g of acetylene,C2H2,
dissolves in 1.0 L of acetone
at 1.0 atm, (a) what is the
Henry’s law constant and (b)
what is its solubility in
acetone if the partial
pressure of C2H2 is 12.5 atm?
2. The solubility of CO2 in water is
0.161 g/100 mL at 200 C and a
partial pressure of 760 mmHg.
What partial pressure of CO2 is
necessary in a softdrink canning
process in order to allow the
solubility of CO2 to equal
0.886g/100 mL?
 RELAT- CON-
LAW LAW
IONSHIP STANT
Boyle’s P V P1V1 = P2V2 T, n
Charles V1/T1 =
V T P, n
’ V2/T2
Gay- P1/T1 =
Lussac’ P T V, n
P2/T2
s
Kinetic Molecular Theory
(KMT) of Gases
KMT is a model to explain the behavior
of gaseous particles and is based on
extensive observations of the behavior
of gases.

If a gas follows all the postulates of

the the KMT it is said to be an ideal
gas.
Postulates of the KMT
Particles are in constant, random,
straight line motion. Collisions with walls
of their container generate pressure.
The actual volume of gas particles is
negligible. Particles are far apart. The
volume of a gas is effectively the volume
the particles occupy, not their particle
volume.
Postulates of the KMT
Gas particles do not attract or
repel.

The average kinetic energy of a

collection of gas particles is
directly proportional to the Kelvin
temperature of the gas.