Basic Chemistry

Fourth Edition

Unit 3 Gases
Volume and Moles
(Avogadros Law)
Learning Goal Use Avogadros law to
determine the amount or volume of a
gas when the pressure and
temperature are constant.
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Avogadros Law
Avogadros law
was formulated by Amedeo Avogadro in 1811
states that the volume of a gas is directly related
to the number of moles of gas when temperature
and pressure are held constant

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Avogadros Law
The volume of a gas is
directly related to the
number of moles of the
gas. If the number of
moles is doubled, the
volume must double at
constant temperature and
pressure.

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Learning Check
If a 0.75 mole sample of
helium gas occupies a
volume of 1.5 L, what
volume will a 1.2 mole
sample of gas occupy at
the same temperature and
pressure?

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Solution
If a 0.75 mole sample of helium gas occupies a
volume of 1.5 L, what volume will a 1.2 mole
sample of gas occupy at the same temperature
and pressure?
Step 1 Organize the data in a table of initial
and final conditions.
Conditions 1

Conditions 2

V1 = 1.5 L

V2 = ?

n1 = 0.75 mole

n2 = 1.2 moles

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Solution
If a 0.75 mole sample of helium gas occupies a
volume of 1.5 L, what volume will a 1.2 mole
sample of gas occupy at the same temperature
and pressure?
Step 2 Rearrange the gas law equation to
solve for the unknown quantity.

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Solution
If a 0.75 mole sample of helium gas occupies
a volume of 1.5 L, what volume will a 1.2
mole sample of gas occupy at the same
temperature and pressure?
Step 3 Substitute values into gas law
equation and calculate.

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STP and Molar Volume

The volumes of gases can be compared at STP
(standard temperature and pressure) when they
have the same number of moles of gas.
Standard temperature is exactly 0 C (273 K).
Standard pressure is exactly 1 atm (760 mmHg).

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STP and Molar Volume

At STP, 1 mole of any gas occupies a volume
of 22.4 L, approximately equal to the volume
of about three basketballs.

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STP and Molar Volume

When a gas is at STP conditions (0 C and
1 atm), its molar volume can be written as a
conversion factor and used to convert between
moles of gas and its volume, in liters.

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Guide to Using Molar Volume

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Solution
What is the volume occupied by 2.75 moles
of N2 gas at STP?
Step 1 State given and needed quantities.
Given: 2.75 moles N2 at STP
Need: liters of N2 at STP
Step 2 Write a plan to calculate the
needed quantity.
moles of N2

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Molar Volume

liters of N2

Solution
What is the volume occupied by 2.75 moles
of N2 gas at STP?
Step 3 Write the equalities and
conversion factors.

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Solution
What is the volume occupied by 2.75 moles
of N2 gas at STP?
Step 4 Set up the problem with factors to
cancel units.

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Density at STP
At STP, the density of a
gas is calculated using the
molar mass of the gas and
its molar volume.

Balloons rise in the air

because helium is less
dense than air.

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Learning Check
Calculate the density in g/L of O2 gas at STP.

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Solution
Calculate the density in g/L of O 2 gas at STP.
Step 1 State given and needed quantities.
Given: O2 gas at STP
Need: density of O2 at STP
Step 2 Write a plan to calculate the
needed quantity.

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Solution
Calculate the density in g/L of O2 gas at STP.
Step 3 Write the equalities and
conversion factors.

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Solution
Calculate the density in g/L of O2 gas at STP.
Step 4 Set up the problem with factors to
cancel units.

2014 Pearson Education, Inc.