Name: Laisha Chan

Class: 4-3

Combined Gas Law

Is there a way that we can combine algebraically the three laws discussed (Boyle’s, Charle’s,
Pressure)? Give it a try.
PK
Combined Gas Law
For a given quantity of gas, it has been found experimentally that the volume of the gas is
inversely proportional to the pressure applied to the gas when the temperature is kept constant.
That is,
α at a constant T.
For example, if the pressure on a gas is doubled, the volume is reduced to half its original
volume. This relationship is known as Boyle’s Law. Boyle’s Law can also be written as;
PV=constant at constant T.
Temperature also affects the volume of a gas. Jacques Charles found that when the pressure is
held constant, the volume of a gas increases in direct proportion to its absolute temperature. This
relationship became known as Charles’ Law.
VαT at constant P.
A third gas law, known as Gay-Lussac’s Law, states that at constant volume, the pressure of a
gas is directly proportional to the absolute temperature.
PαT at constant V.
The kinetic-molecular theory assumes that there are no attractive forces between the molecules
and that the volume of the molecules themselves is negligible compared to the volume of the gas.
At high temperatures and low pressures, these assumptions are true and the gases follow the gas
laws very accurately. However, these three laws are true only as long as the pressure and
density are relatively low. When a gas is compressed to the point that the molecular volume is a
significant portion of the gas volume, the gas laws begin to fail. Similarly, when gases become
so dense that the molecules begin to attract each other, the gas laws also fail. These changes are
expressed in the Van der Waals equations.
These three gas laws can be combined into the Combined Gas Law as follows:
PV T or PV/T=constant
where P = pressure, V = volume, T = absolute temperature
(Kelvin), and k = constant. The constant k is a true constant if the
number of moles of the gas doesn't change. Otherwise, it varies.
A commonly used form of the combined gas law states that, for a
sample of gas, the ratio of the product of the original pressure and
volume to the original temperature will equal the ratio of the
product of a new pressure and volume to the new temperature, or
1 1 2 2
=
1 2

This equation is useful when operating with the same sample of gas, and given five of the
variables, to solve for the sixth.
When solving problems with temperature in them, the calculations require that temperatures be
in Kelvin. Be careful to convert to Kelvin when given temperatures in Celsius.

Problem 1
A gas has a volume of 800.0 mL at −23.0 °C and 300.0 torr. What would the volume of the gas
be at 227.0 °C and 600.0 torr of pressure?

Solution:
1) Set up all the problem values in a solution matrix:
P1 = 300.0 torr P2 = 600.0 torr
 V1 = 800.0 mL V2 = x
T1 = 250. K T2 = 500. K
2) The combined gas law is rearranged to isolate V2:
1 1 2 2
=
1 2

Cross-multiply to clear the fractions:

P1V1T2 = P2V2T1

Divide to isolate V2:

P1V1T2
V2 = ––––––
P2T1
3) Values are inserted into the proper places:
(300.0 torr) (800.0 mL) (500.0 K)
V2 = –––––––––––––––––––––––––––
(250.0 K) (600.0 torr)
V2 = 800.0 mL

Problem 2
Find the volume of a gas at STP when 2.00 liters is collected at 745.0 mm Hg and 25.0 degrees
Celsius.
To solve the problem, you first need to identify which formula to use. In this case, the question
asks about conditions at STP, so you know you're dealing with a "before and after" problem.
Next, you need to understand STP. If you haven't memorized this already (and you probably
should, since it appears a lot), STP refers to "standard temperature and pressure," which is 273
Kelvin (T)and 760.0 mm Hg(P).
Because the law works using absolute temperature, you need to convert 25.0 degrees Celsius to
the Kelvin scale. This gives you 298 Kelvin.
Step 1

P1 = 745.0 mm Hg P2 = 760.0 mm Hg
V1 = 2.00 L V2 = x
T1 = 298 K T2 = 273 K

Step 2 Next, take the formula and set it up to solve for the unknown "x," which in this
problem is V2:

1 1 2 2
=
1 2
=

Step 3 Plug in the numbers and solve for V2:

V2 = (745.0 mm Hg · 2.00 L · 273 K) / (760 mm Hg · 298 K)

V2 = 1.796 L
Report the result using the correct number of significant figures: V2 = 1.80 L
 PROBLEM 3 Assessment

1. A balloon of air now occupies 10.0 L at 25.0 °C and 1.00 atm. What temperature
was it initially, if it occupied 9.40 L and was in a freezer with a pressure of 0.939
atm?
2. What is the volume of gas at 2.00 atm and 200.0 K if its original volume was 300.0
L at 0.250 atm and 400.0 K.

1.)

P1 = 0.939 atm P2 = 1.00 atm

V1 = 9.40 L V2 = 10.0 L
T1 = x T2 = 298 K

P1V1 P2V2
––––– = –––––
T1 T2

T1P2V2 = P1V1T2

P1V1T2
–––––
T1 =
–
P2V2
(0.939 atm) (9.40 L) (298 K)
T1 = ––––––––––––––––––––––––
(1.00 atm) (10.0 L)

T1 = 263 K

The form of the final temperature was not specificed, but it is usually asked for in Celsius,
so:

T1 = −10. °C

2.)

P1 = 0.250 atm P2 = 2.00 atm

V1 = 300.0 L V2 = x
T1 = 400.0 K T2 = 200.0 K

The combined gas law rearranged to isolate V2:

V2 = (P1V1T2) / (T1P2)

x = [(0.25) (300) (200)] / [(400) (2)]

x = 18.75 L

To three sig figs, this is 18.8 L