Equation of state of ideal gases

Objective
For a constant amount of gas (air) investigate the correlation of
1. Volume and pressure at constant temperature (Boyles law)

2. Volume and temperature at constant pressure (Gay-Lussac’s law)

3. Pressure and temperature at constant volume Charles’s law

Introduction
The gas laws are thermodynamic relationships that express the behavior of
a quantity of gas in terms of the pressure P , volume V , and temperature
T . The kinetic energy of gases expresses the behavior of a ”perfect” or
ideal gas to be P V = nRT , which is commonly referred to as the ideal
gas law. However, the general relationships among P , V and T contained
in this equation had been expressed earlier in the classical gas laws for
real gases. These gas laws were Based on the empirical observations of
early investigators, in particular the English scientist Robert Boyle and the
French scientists Jacques Charles and Joseph Gay-Lussac.

Theory
I Boyle’s law:
Around 1660, Robert Boyle had established an empirical relationship
between the pressure and the volume of a gas, which is known as
Boyle’s law:
At constant temperature, the volume occupied by a given mass of gas
is inversely proportional to its pressure. In mathematical notation, we
write
1
V ∝ , (1)
P
In equation form, we may write
k
∆V = . (2)
P
Where k is the constant of proportionality for a given temperature.
The pressure of a confined gas is commonly measured by means of
a manometer. The gas pressure for such an open-tube manometer is
the sum of the atmospheric pressure Pa and the pressure of the height
difference of mercury

P = Pa + ρm × g × hm . (3)

1
 but
Pa = 76 cm Hg = ρm × g × 76
then equation (3) becomes:

P = ρm × g × (hm + 76). (4)

where ρm = 13.6 gm/cm3 and g = 980cm/s2

The volume of the enclosed gas is the volume of the measuring tube
segment marked in brown added to the volume calculated from the
length of the column of air:

V = Vl + 1.01 ml (5)

or
V = πr2 l + 1.01 ml
µ ¶2
1.14
=π l + 1.01 ml
2
= 1.02l + 1.01
∼
=l+1
= l0 (6)

Substituting with P and V in eq. (2):

P V = ρm × g × (hm + 76) × l0 = k. (7)

Let
k
k0 =
ρm g
then Boyle’s law is
k0
hm = − 76 (8)
l0
Where hm represents the change in pressure, and since the cross sec-
tional area of the tube is constant,then l0 represents V .

II Charle’s and Gay-Lussac’s laws :

In 1787, the French physicist Jacques Charles reported the result of a
series of experiments which is known as Charles’ law :
At constant volume, the pressure exerted by a given mass of gas is
proportional to its absolute temperature. In mathematical notation,

P ∝ T, (9)

or
P = k T. (10)

2
 where k is a constant of proportionality. If we substitute for the value
of P from eq(4 ), we get

ρm × g × (hm + 76) = k T. (11)

or
k
hm + 76 = × T. (12)
ρm g
then
hm = k 0 T − 76. (13)
Notice that the gas laws are expressed in terms of absolute tempera-
ture (Kelvin). Where
TK = Tc + 273

In 1802, Gay-Lussac, using a somewhat different experimental ap-

proach, essentially restarted Charles’ law in a form more commonly
used today (also known as Gay-Lussac’s law):
At constant pressure, the volume of a given mass of gas is proportional
to its absolute temperature.
That is,
V ∝ T, (14)
or
V = k 00 T. (15)
Substituting for the value of V from eq.(6)

l0 = k 00 T. (16)

Equipments
Gas laws apparatus, lab thermometer (−10... + 100c), distilled water.

Procedure
• PART (I)

1. During the experiment, the temperature in the measuring tube

must be kept constant. Keep the heater off and record reading
of the thermometer in the air tube.
2. raise or lower the open end of the tube until the mercury levels
in both sides are equal, then record the length of the enclosed air
column l0 , where the difference of mercury levels hm = 0. Repeat
this step several times

3
 3. Raise the mercury level in the open tube to decrease the air
column, then record l, hm .
4. Plot hm on the y-axis, and 1l on the x-axis, then calculate the
slope.
• PART(II)
1. Set the thermostat to 30 c◦ wait until the thermometer read
30 c◦ .
2. Raise or lower the open end of the tube until the mercury levels
in both sides are equal, and then record the length of the enclosed
air column l0 = l00 , and the difference of mercury levels hm = 0.
3. During the experiment the volume must be constant; this means
l0 must be constant. Increase the thermostat by 5 c◦ wait for
temperature constancy in the measuring tube and the increment
of l0

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 4. Raise the open end tube to return the length of air column to
l0 = l00 , then record hm and TK .
5. ) repeat steps 3, 4 several times.
6. Plot hm on the y-axis, and TK on the x-axis, calculate the slope.

• PART(III)

1. Set the thermostat to 30 c◦ wait until the thermometer read

30 c◦ .
2. Raise or lower the open end of the tube until the mercury levels
in both sides are equal, and then record the length of the enclosed
air column l0 = l00 , and the difference of mercury levels hm = 0.
3. During the experiment the pressure must be constant; this means
hm = 0. Increase the thermostat by 5 c◦ wait for temperature
constancy in the measuring tube and the increment of l0 .
4. Lower the open end tube to return to equal levels of mercury
hm = 0, then record l0 and TK .
5. Repeat steps 3, 4 several times
6. Plot l0 on the y-axis, and TK on the x-axis, calculate the slope.

Results
Data table (I ):
T0 = ........
l(cm)

l0 (cm)

hm (cm)

Data table (II ):

l0 = ........, l00 = ........

Tc

TK

hm (cm)

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 Data table (II ):
T0 = ........
Tc

TK

l(cm)

l0 (cm)