ICP-TUP Chemical Technician Review

GASES

1. Under atmospheric conditions, ionic compounds exist as solids rather than as gases. The behavior of
molecular compounds is more varied. A number of elemental substances are gases: H 2, N2, O2, O3, F2,
Cl2 and the group 8A elements (noble gases).

2. Gases exert pressure because their molecules move freely and collide with any surface with which
they make contact. Gas pressure units include millimeters of mercury (mm Hg), torr, pascals, and
atmospheres. One atmosphere equals 760 mm Hg, or 760 torr or 101,325 Pa.

3. Properties of gases:

a. Diffusibility – the property to spread in all directions and fill the space available to it.

b. Compressibility – the property of a given quantity of gas to occupy a smaller volume than
its original volume.

c. Gases exert pressure

4. The pressure-volume relationships of ideal gases are governed by Boyle’s law: volume is inversely
proportional to pressure (at constant T and n). P1V1 = P2V2

5. The temperature-volume relationships of ideal gases are described by Charles’ and Gay-Lussac’s law:
Volume is directly proportional to temperature (at constant P and n). V 1/T1 = V2/T2

6. Absolute zero (–273.15oC) is the lowest theoretically attainable temperature. The Kelvin temperature
scale takes 0 K as absolute zero. In all gas calculations, temperature must be expressed in kelvins.

7. The amount-volume relationships of ideal gases are described by Avogadro’s law: Equal volumes of
gases contain equal numbers of molecules (at the same T and P).

8. The ideal gas equation, PV = nRT, combines the laws of Boyle, Charles, and Avogadro. This
equation describes the behavior of an ideal gas. PV = mRT/ M ; PM = dRT ; M = dRT/P

9. The combined gas law: P1V1/ T1 = P2V2/T2

10. Dalton’s law of partial pressures states that in a mixture of gases each gas exerts the same pressure as
it would if it were alone and occupied the same volume. P t = P1 + P2 + P3 + ….

Pa = Xa Pt Pb = XbPt Xa & Xb = mole fractions of A and B

11. The kinetic molecular theory, a mathematical way of describing the behavior of gas molecules, is
based on the following assumptions: Gas molecules are separated by distances far greater than their
own dimensions, they possess mass but have negligible volume, they are in constant motion, and they
frequently collide with one another. The molecules neither attract nor repel one another.

Diffusibility: molecules of a gas are in constant motion in straight lines.

 Compressibility : gas consists of tiny molecules which are so far apart that the actual volume of
the molecules is negligible compared to the empty space between them.

Pressure: molecules are in constant random motion in straight lines, colliding with one another
and against the walls of the container without loss of momentum.

Increasing the temperature increases the pressure at constant volume: increasing the temperature
increases the kinetic energy and therefore the movement of the molecules also increases. This
also increases the number of collisions which in turn increases the pressure.

Increasing the temperature increases the volume at constant pressure: when temperature is
increased, the kinetic energy is increased. The molecules travel longer distances in order to
maintain the same number of collisions per unit time, hence the gas expands and volume
increases.

12. In diffusion, two gases gradually mix with each other by virtue of their kinetic properties. Effusion is
the process by which a gas under pressure escapes from one compartment of a container to another by
passing through a small opening. Both processes demonstrate random molecular motion and are
governed by the same mathematical laws (Graham’s laws of diffusion and effusion). Graham’s law of
diffusion states that under the same conditions of temperature and pressure, rates of diffusion for
gaseous substances are inversely proportional to the square roots of their molar masses.

r1/r2 = √ M2/M1

13. The van der Waals equation is a modification of the ideal gas equation that takes into account the
nonideal behavior of real gases. It corrects for the fact that real gas molecules do exert forces on each
other and that they do have volume. The van der Waals constants are determined experimentally for
each gas. (P + an2/V2) (V-nb) = nRT