Lesson 1.

9: Exploring and Measuring Gas Properties

Unit 1: Structure and Properties of Matter

Exploring and Measuring Gas Properties – HANDOUT

1.9.A
Pressure and Volume

PROCEDURE

1. Assemble the data collection apparatus.

Safety Note
2. Pull the plunger of the syringe out to 5.0 mL and Follow all safety guidelines
attach it to the pressure sensor. (Do not twist it provided by your teacher.
too tightly or it could break.)
3. Start data collection.
4. Record a pressure for this volume. You will need to manually input the volume.
Make sure you are holding the syringe steady whenever you or your partner
collect the data point.
5. Keep the amount of gas in the syringe constant by not detaching the syringe from
the pressure sensor. Pull and/or push the plunger to at least 5 different volumes to
get pressure readings for each one. Be careful to not force the plunger down.

DATA

Volume (mL) Pressure (kPa)

5 mL 101.22 kPa
10 mL 57.63 kPa

3 mL 170.11 kPa

12 mL 48.67 kPa

20 mL 29.30 kPa

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 Lesson 1.9: Exploring and Measuring Gas Properties

Unit 1: Structure and Properties of Matter

HANDOUT ANALYSIS
1.9.A

1. (a) Using the data you recorded, sketch a graph of pressure versus volume.

(b) Describe the relationship between the volume of the container and the
pressure of the gas at constant temperature and amount of gas.
The relationship between the volume of the container and
the pressure of the gas at a constant temperature is the
more volume, the less pressure. And the less the volume,
the more the pressure.

(c) Is the relationship linear?

The relationship is not linear, because it is a negative
exponential curve that starts off as high and then
decreasing constantly.

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 Lesson 1.9: Exploring and Measuring Gas Properties

Unit 1: Structure and Properties of Matter

2. (a)  Using the data you recorded, construct a graph of P versus 1/V. HANDOUT
1.9.A

(b) Is this a linear relationship? Yes, It is a linear equation

3. Draw a line of fit through the data points you graphed in question 2. Write an
equation in the form of y = mx + b that describes the relationship you observe in
your graph of P versus 1/V.
P= 502.892 1/v + 4.156

4. Are pressure and volume directly or inversely proportional at constant

temperature and amount of gas?
Pressure and Volume are inversely proportional at a constant
temperature and amount of gas.

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 Lesson 1.9: Exploring and Measuring Gas Properties

Unit 1: Structure and Properties of Matter

HANDOUT 5. How would you use the equation above to predict the new pressure of a gas if its
1.9.A
volume expanded to twice its original size?
I would use the equation above to predict the new pressure of a gas if
its volume expanded to twice its original size by substituting the
variables by the needed information.

6. Draw a particle diagram showing a gas in a sealed container. Draw a second

particle diagram to illustrate how decreasing the volume changes the pressure.
Draw a third particle diagram to illustrate how increasing the volume changes the
pressure.

7. Explain, in words, your particle diagrams from the previous question.

Box #1 has a specific number of gas particles (6) and it has a specified
pressure. In box #2, the volume if the box decreases therefore it
creates more pressure because the gas particles do not have any
room to move. In box #3, there is an increase in volume, which means
there is a decrease in pressure. The particles have a lot of surface
area to move therefore it does not hit the walls of the box much.

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 Lesson 1.9: Exploring and Measuring Gas Properties

Unit 1: Structure and Properties of Matter

Exploring and Measuring Gas Properties – HANDOUT

1.9.B
Pressure and Amount of Gas

PROCEDURE

1. Assemble the data collection apparatus.

Safety Note
2. Push the plunger all the way down so there is no Follow all safety guidelines
air in the syringe and attach it to the pressure provided by your teacher.
sensor.
3. Start data collection.
4. Pull the plunger in the syringe out to 5.0 mL.
5. Hold the plunger steady and record the pressure reading for that amount of gas.
(a) Type the amount of gas into the box as 0 “units” since there is no gas in the
syringe. Make sure you are holding the syringe steady when your partner
records the pressure.
(b) In order to count the amount of gas we are using we will count using the
generic term “units.” We will say that 1 “unit” of air is the number of gas
particles contained in 1 mL of air.
6. Detach the syringe and then pull the plunger to draw in some air. Record how
many “units” of air this is.
7. Attach the syringe to the gas pressure sensor.
8. Push or pull the syringe to the 5.0 mL mark. Hold it steady and record the
pressure.
9. Repeat for at least 5 different amounts of gas. Make sure that every time you take
a reading, the volume of gas is compressed or expanded to the 5.0 mL mark so
that all measurements are being taken at the same volume, but with a different
amount of gas each time.

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 Lesson 1.9: Exploring and Measuring Gas Properties

Unit 1: Structure and Properties of Matter

HANDOUT DATA
1.9.B

Units of gas Pressure (kPa)

0 7.30 kPa
5 101.02 kPa

10 185.75 kPa

12 226.40 kPa
3 67.80 kPa

ANALYSIS

1. Using the data you recorded, sketch a graph of pressure versus amount of gas.

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 Lesson 1.9: Exploring and Measuring Gas Properties

Unit 1: Structure and Properties of Matter

2. Using the data and graph from question 1: HANDOUT

1.9.B
(a) Describe the relationship between the number of gas particles and the
pressure of the gas at constant volume and temperature.
The relationship between the number of gas particles and the
pressure of the gas at a constant volume and temperature is
that when the amount of gas particles increase, the pressure
increases as well.

(b) Is the relationship linear?

Yes, The relationship is linear.

3. Draw a line of fit through the data you plotted. Write an equation in the form of
y = mx + b that describes the relationship you observe in your graph of P versus
amount of gas.
P= 16.946g

4. Are pressure and amount of gas directly or inversely proportional at constant

volume and temperature?
The pressure and amount of gas are directly proportional at
constant volume and temperature.

5. Complete each sentence stem:

The value of the y-intercept, b, for this data is 0 because
Our linear relationship passes the origin of the graph (0).
The number of particles is represented on the x-axis, so
It can represent that the amount of gas particles are the independent
variables.

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 Lesson 1.9: Exploring and Measuring Gas Properties

Unit 1: Structure and Properties of Matter

HANDOUT 6. Draw a particle diagram showing a gas in a sealed container. Draw a second particle
1.9.B
diagram to illustrate how adding more gas particles changes the pressure. Draw a
third particle diagram to illustrate how removing gas particles changes the pressure.

7. Explain, in words, your particle diagrams from the previous question.

If we have a lot of gas particles in the box then there would be more
pressure. And if there where less amount of gas particles, there could
be less pressure.

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 Lesson 1.9: Exploring and Measuring Gas Properties

Unit 1: Structure and Properties of Matter

Exploring and Measuring Gas Properties – HANDOUT

1.9.C
Pressure and Temperature

PROCEDURE

1. Assemble the data collection apparatus, as shown

Safety Note
below.
Follow all safety guidelines
2. Attach the stopper to an Erlenmeyer flask. Make provided by your teacher.
sure the stopper is firmly attached to the tubing.
Attach the pressure sensor to the other end of the tubing.
3. Place the flask in a beaker of hot water (about 80°C). Also place the temperature
probe in the water, as shown in the figure.

4. Start data collection.

5. Allow both P and T readings to stabilize before recording your data points. Make
sure to hold the stopper on the flask so it does not pop off. If you swirl and bob
the flask in the water, the readings will stabilize more quickly.

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 Lesson 1.9: Exploring and Measuring Gas Properties

Unit 1: Structure and Properties of Matter

HANDOUT 6. Take 7–10 readings at a wide range of temperatures. For the first few readings,
1.9.C
pour out some of the hot water in the beaker and add some tap water to cool the
water bath a little bit. Continue this until you have room temperature water.

7. Add some ice to the room temperature water to take readings at a cooler
temperature. Take at least 3 measurements below room temperature.

8. Want a really cold solution? Add rock salt to get a very icy water bath.

DATA

Temperature (°C) Pressure (kPa)

90 C 1414

87 C 1409
80 C 1399

76 C 1381

67 C 1302
52 C 1290

48 C 1250

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 Lesson 1.9: Exploring and Measuring Gas Properties

Unit 1: Structure and Properties of Matter

ANALYSIS HANDOUT
1.9.C

1. Using the data you recorded, sketch a graph of pressure versus temperature of the gas.

2. Describe the relationship between the temperature and the pressure of the gas at
constant volume and amount of gas.
The relationship between the temperature and the pressure of the
gas at a constant volume and amount of gas is the higher the
temperature, the more pressure there is.
3. Draw a line of fit through the data you plotted above. Write an equation in the
form of y = mx + b to represent the data graphed.
P= 0.06364t

4. A student claims the y-intercept should be 0 for this equation. Do you agree or
disagree with the student’s claim? Cite data you collected as evidence. Are there
any conditions under which your opinion might change?
The student that claims the y-intercept should be 0 is correct
because the line passes through the origin (0,0).

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 Lesson 1.9: Exploring and Measuring Gas Properties

Unit 1: Structure and Properties of Matter

HANDOUT 5. Draw a particle diagram showing a gas in a sealed container. Draw a second
1.9.C
particle diagram to explain how increasing the temperature changes the pressure.
Draw a third particle diagram to explain how decreasing the temperature changes
the pressure.

6. Explain, in words, your particle diagrams from the previous question.

When the temperature increases, the gas particles vibrate more and
hit the sides of the box more frequently, therefore with the increase
of heat there is an increase in pressure. And with the decrease of
temperature, there is the decrease of pressure.

7. Think about the hair spray can explosion from the beginning of the lesson.
Propose an explanation for what happened using the language and concepts you
learned throughout the lesson.
The temperature in the car affected the pressure experienced by the
gas in the can of dry shampoo because the hot temperature of the
car created a chain reaction that gave the gas particles energy
inside the can to expand to the sides of the can. The increasing the
tension on the can made it have more pressure, which caused the
can to explode.

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 Lesson 1.9: Exploring and Measuring Gas Properties

Unit 1: Structure and Properties of Matter

Exploring and Measuring Gas Properties – HANDOUT

1.9.D
Volume and Temperature

PROCEDURE

1. Open the Charles’s Law computer simulation available from the University of
Oregon at https://pages.uoregon.edu/tgreenbo/charles_law.html.
2. Using the slider at the bottom of the simulation, take at least 5 measurements of
the volume at different temperatures.

DATA

Temperature (K) Volume (cm3)

315 K 10 cm3
345 K 11cm3

378 K 12 cm3
410 K 13 cm3

441 K 14 cm3

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 Lesson 1.9: Exploring and Measuring Gas Properties

Unit 1: Structure and Properties of Matter

HANDOUT ANALYSIS
1.9.D

1. Using the data you recorded, sketch a graph of volume versus temperature of
the gas.

2. Draw a line of fit through the data you plotted. Write an equation in the form of
y = mx + b that describes the relationship you observe in your graph of volume
versus temperature.
V= 0.33T - 93.95

3. Is the relationship between absolute temperature and volume, with constant

pressure and amount of gas, directly proportional or inversely proportional?
The relationship between absolute temperature and volume, with
constant pressure and amount of gas, is directly proportional.

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 Lesson 1.9: Exploring and Measuring Gas Properties

Unit 1: Structure and Properties of Matter

4. The simulation does not show a particle view of the gas. Draw two particle HANDOUT
1.9.D
diagrams that illustrate the effect that increasing the temperature has on the
volume occupied by the gas.

5. If the temperature of a gas in a 2.0 L sealed container with variable volume is

doubled, what will the volume of the container increase to?
The volume of the container increases to 4 L

6. A gas inside a container with a movable piston is heated, pushing the piston
outward and increasing the volume occupied by the gas.
(a) As the piston is moving outward, is the pressure inside the container greater
than, less than, or equal to the pressure of the environment outside the
container? Explain your answer in terms of the particle level of matter.
As the piston is moving outward, the pressure inside the
container is greater than the pressure of the environment outside
the container because when the piston is moving, the gas
particles inside are trying to regulate the pressure to be the
same as the outside pressure.

(b) Eventually, the piston stops moving outward. When this happens, is the
pressure inside the container greater than, less than, or equal to the pressure
of the environment outside the container? Explain your answer in terms of
the particle level of matter.
WHen the piston stops moving,

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