General Chemistry 1

EP U
R PE S RS U
E R SE
The Physical force exerted on
or against an object by
something in contact with it.
 L O LV U
V EMUM
E
The amount of space that a
substance or object occupies.
ET M
EM P EA
TR RAP TU
RURE
The degree or intensity of
heat present in a substance
or object
Gay-Lussac’s
Law
P
k=
T
Objective:
• Define pressure and give the common units of pressure.

• Use the gas laws to determine pressure, volume, and

the temperature of a gas under certain conditions of
change.
 Boyle’s Law
(Robert Boyle)

Is a basic law in chemistry describing the behavior of a

gas held at a constant temperature.

This Law states that at a fixed temperature, the volume

of gas is inversely proportional to the pressure exerted
by the gas.
 Can be expressed mathematically as:
P1V1 = P2V2
P1 = Initial Pressure
P2 = Final Pressure
V1 = Initial Volume
V2 = Final Volume

As Pressure Decreases, the volume Increases

P V
Consists of a cylinder to contain the fluid
and a plunger to vary the pressure. When
the plunger is pushed down, the volume of
the fluid reduces, thereby increasing the
pressure. Similarly, on pulling up the
plunger, the volume is increased, and the
pressure is reduced.
Sample Problem:
A balloon with a volume of 2.0 L is filled with a gas at 3
atmospheres. If the pressure is reduced to 0.5 atmospheres
without a change in temperature, what would be the volume of
the balloon?
Given: V1 = 2 L Formula: P1V1 = P2V2
P1 = 3 atm P2 P2
P2 = 0.5 atm
P1V1
Asked: V2 = ? V2 =
P2
Solution:
P1V1
V2 =
P2

(3 atm)(2 L)
V2 =
0.5 atm
V1 = 2 L P1 = 3 atm
Answer: P2 = 0.5 atm
V2 = 12 L
The final volume increases
Let’s try!

If a gas occupies 3.60 liters at a pressure of 1.00 atm, what will be its
volume at a pressure of 2.50 atm?
 Charles’ Law
(Jacques Charles)

States that the volume occupied by a fixed amount of

gas is directly proportional to its absolute temperature
if the pressure remains constant. 
 Can be expressed mathematically as:
V1 V2
T1 = T2
V1 = Initial Volume
V2 = Final Volume
T1 = Initial Temperature
T2 = Final Temperature

As Volume Increases, the temperature increases as well

V T
 Yeast produces carbon dioxide gas.
When bread and cakes are baked
at high temperatures; with an
increase in temperature, carbon
In order to make bread and dioxide gas expands.
cakes soft and spongy, yeast
is used for fermentation.
Sample Problem:

Find the initial volume of a gas at 2 degrees Celsius, if the final

volume is 6 L at 100 K.

Given: T1 = 2°C + 273 = 275 K

V2 = 6 L
T2 = 100 K
Asked: V1 = ?
V1T2 = V2T1
Formula: V1 = V2
T2 T2
T1 T2
Solution:

V1 = V2T1
T2
V1 = (6 L)(275 K)
(100 K)
Answer:
16.5 L
Let’s try!

Calculate the decrease in temperature when 2.00 L at 21.0

°C is compressed to 1.00 L.
Gay-Lussac’s Law
(Joseph Louis Gay-Lussac)

States that the pressure of a given amount of gas held at constant

volume is directly proportional to the Kelvin temperature.
 Can be expressed mathematically as:
P1 P2
T1 = T2
P1 = Initial Pressure
P2 = Final Pressure
T1 = Initial Temperature
T2 = Final Temperature

As Pressure Increases, the temperature increases as well

P T
When heat is supplied, the water inside
vaporizes, producing steam. The steam is
released through a valve. If it malfunction
and the heat flow is not interrupted, the
pressure escalates.
If you get a chance to read the instructions
on a bottle of deodorant, you might have
read the warning signs indicating the bottle
to be kept away from sunlight and high
temperature. Under high temperatures,
the air molecules inside the bottle will
expand which can lead to bursting.
Sample Problem:
An aerosol deodorant can have a pressure of 3.00 atm
at 25 °C. What is the pressure inside the can at a
temperature of 845 °C? This example illustrates why
you shouldn’t incinerate aerosol cans.
Given: P1 = 3 atm T2 = 845 °C + 273 = 1118 K
T1 = 25 °C + 273 = 298 K
Asked: P2 = ?

Formula: P1 = P2 P1T2 = P2T1

T1 T2 T1 T1
Solution:

P2 = P1T2
T1

P2 = (3 atm)(1118 K)
298 K

Answer:
11.26 / 11.3 atm
Let’s try!

Heating a gas cylinder to 250 K raises its

pressure to 2.0 atm. What was its initial
temperature, assuming the gas started out at
ambient pressure (1.0 atm)?
Assignment:
1. A gas occupies 11.2 liters at 0.860 atm. What is the pressure if
the volume becomes 15.0 L?
2. 600.0 mL of air is at 20.0 °C. What is the volume at 60.0 °C?
3. Determine the pressure change when a constant volume of gas
at 1.00 atm is heated from 20.0 °C to 30.0 °C.
4.  A gas occupies 900.0 mL at a temperature of 27.0 °C. What is
the volume at 132.0 °C?