May Fritzi M.

Saligumba

GAY LUSSAC’S LAW

Gay-Lussac’s law states that the pressure of a given mass of gas varies directly with the absolute
temperature of the gas, when the volume is kept constant. Gay-Lussac's Law is very similar to Charles's Law,
with the only difference being the type of container. Whereas the container in a Charles's Law experiment is
flexible, it is rigid in a Gay-Lussac's Law experiment
When the temperature of a sample of gas in a rigid container is increased, the pressure of the gas increases as
well. The increase in kinetic energy results in the molecules of gas striking the walls of the container with more
force, resulting in a greater pressure. Hence, the pressure exerted by a gas is proportional to the temperature of
the gas when the mass is fixed and the volume is constant.
This law was formulated by the French chemist Joseph Gay-Lussac in the year 1808. The mathematical
expression of Gay-Lussac’s law can be written as follows:
P ∝ T ; P/T = k
Where:

 P is the pressure exerted by the gas

 T is the absolute temperature of the gas
 k is a constant.
Examples of Gay-Lussac’s Law
When a pressurized aerosol can (such as a deodorant can or a spray-paint can) is
heated, the resulting increase in the pressure exerted by the gases on the container
can result in an explosion. This is the reason why many pressurized containers
have warning labels stating that the container must be kept away from fire and
stored in a cool environment.
Another example of Gay-Lussac’s law can be observed in pressure cookers.
When the cooker is heated, the pressure exerted by the steam inside the container
increases. The high temperature and pressure inside the container cause the food to cook faster.

Summary:

 Gay-Lussac's law is a form of the ideal gas law in which gas volume is kept constant.
 When volume is held constant, pressure of a gas is directly proportional to its temperature.
 The usual equations for Gay-Lussac's law are P/T = constant or Pi/Ti = Pf/Tf.
 The reason the law works is that temperature is a measure of average kinetic energy, so as the kinetic
energy increases, more particle collisions occur and pressure increases. If temperature decreases, there is
less kinetic energy, fewer collisions, and lower pressure.