EXPLORING

GAS LAWS
CHARLES’ LAW
Pressure Units
 KEY UNITS AT SEA LEVEL
101.325 kPa (kilopascal)
1 atm
760 mm Hg
760 torr
14.7 psi
Volume UNITS

The SI unit for volume is the

cubic meter, m3. A more
common and convenient
unit is the liter, L.
Temperature Units

 Always use absolute temperature

(Kelvin) when working with gases.

º
F- 32 212
459
º
C- 0 100
273
K
0 273 373
Boyle’s Law
 This law is named for Robert Boyle,
who studied the relationship between
pressure, p, and volume, V, in the
mid-1600s.
 Boyle determined that for the same
amount of a gas at constant
temperature, results in an inverse
relationship:
when one goes up, the other

volume
comes down.

pressure
What then is
Charles Law?
LET’S HEAR FROM THE GASES
ACTIVITY
Charles’ Law
In Charles’ Law,
 the Kelvin
temperature of a gas
is directly related to
the volume.
 P and n are constant.
 when the
temperature of a gas
increases, its volume
increases.

9
Charles’ Law: V and T

 For two conditions, Charles’ Law is written

V1 = V2 (P and n constant)
T1 T2

 Rearranging Charles’ Law to solve for V2

T2 x V1 = V2 x T1
T1 T1

V2 = V1 x T2
T1
10
Learning Check

Solve Charles’ Law expression for T2.

V1 = V2
T1 T2

11
Solution

V1 = V2
T1 T2

Cross multiply to give

V1T2 =V2T1

Isolate T2 by dividing through by V1

V1T2 =V2T1
V1 V1

T2 = T 1 x V2
V1

12
Calculations Using Charles’ Law
A balloon has a volume of 785 mL at 21°C. If
the
temperature drops to 0°C, what is the new
volume of
the balloon (P constant)?

1. Set up data table:

Conditions 1 Conditions 2
V1 = 785 mL V2 = ?
T1 = 21°C = 294 K T2 = 0°C = 273 K

Be sure to use the Kelvin (K) temperature in

gas calculations.
13
Calculations Using Charles’ Law
(continued)

2. Solve Charles’ law for V2:

V1 = V2
T1 T2

V2 = V1 x T2
T1
V2 = 785 mL x 273 K = 729 mL
294 K

14
Learning Check

A sample of oxygen gas has a

volume of 420 mL at a
temperature of 18°C. At what
temperature (in °C) will the
volume of the oxygen be 640 mL
(P and n constant)?

15
Solution

2) 170°C

T2 = T1 x V2
V1
T2 = 291 K x 640 mL = 443 K
420 mL

= 443 K - 273 K = 170°C

16
Learning Check
Use the gas laws to complete sentence
with
1) increases 2) decreases.

A. Pressure _______, when V decreases.

B. When T decreases, V _______.
C. Pressure _______ when V changes
from 12 L to 24 L
D. Volume _______when T changes from
15 °C to 45°C
17
Solution

Use the gas laws to complete with

1) increases 2) decreases.

A. Pressure 1) Increases, when V decreases.

B. When T decreases, V 2) Decreases.
C. Pressure 2) Decreases when V changes from
12 L to 24 L
D. Volume 1) Increases when T changes from
15°C to 45°C

18
Charles’ Law

 This law is named for Jacques

Charles, who studied the
relationship volume, V, and
temperature, T, around the turn
of the 19th century.
 This defines a direct relationship:
With the same amount of gas he
found that as the volume
increases the temperature also
increases. If the temperature

temperature
decreases than the volume also

volume
decreases.
EXERCISES

1) A container holds 50.0 mL of
nitrogen at 25° C and a pressure of 736
mm Hg. If the pressure remains
constant, What will be its volume if the
temperature increases by 35° C?

 2) A sample of oxygen occupies a

volume of 160 dm3 at 91°C. What will
be volume of oxygen when the
temperature drops to 0.00° C?
Conditions 1 Conditions 2
V1 = 50.0 mL V2 = ?
T1 = 25°C = 298 K T2 = 35°C = 308 K
Formula/Folution
V2 = V1 T2
T1
=50.0mLX308K
298K
V2 = 51.68 mL
Conditions 1 Conditions 2
V1 = 160 dm3 V2 = ?
T1 = 91°C = 364K T2 = 0°C = 273 K
Formula/Folution
V2 = V1 T2
T1
= 160 dm3 X 273K
364K
V2 = 120 dm3
EXERCISES
3)A sample of hydrogen has an initial
temperature of 50.° C. When the
temperature is lowered to -5.0° C, the
volume of hydrogen becomes 212 cm3.
What was the initial volume of the
hydrogen in cm3 ?

4)568 cm3 of chlorine at 25° C will

occupy what volume at -25° C while
the pressure remains constant?