BEHAVIOR OF GASES:

Investigate the relationship

between volume and
temperature at constant
pressure of a gas.
The behavior of gases is determined by the
behavior of its individual particles. To
explain behavioral properties of gases, The
Kinetic Molecular Theory was formulated.
According to this theory, gas has the
following characteristics:
1. Gas is made up of
particles that
continuously move in
random and straight-
line motion.
2. The spaces between these particles are
so wide that the force of attraction is
negligible, thus, they diffuse easily and mix
readily with other gases.
3. The collision of particles to each other
and to the walls of its container is perfectly
elastic. This means that they don’t lose or
gain energy as they collide.
4. The average kinetic energy of a gas is
directly proportional to its absolute
temperature. This means that when the
temperature is high, particles of gas are
rapidly moving or colliding to each other.
The volume of a gas is also affected by its
temperature. Try to do another
experiment. Place an inflated balloon
inside a wide-mouthed container half-
filled with a boiling water. Cover the
container and observe what happens to
the balloon. Refer to the figure below.
You will observe that after placing the
inflated balloon in a container with very
hot water, the balloon will expand or
increase in volume. Removing the
balloon from this container will bring
back the balloon to its original size.
You may also observe the balloon after
placing it inside a freezer. You will see that
it decreases in volume. This only shows that
gas expands at high temperature.
This relationship between the volume of a
gas and its temperature was discovered
by Jacques Charles in 1787. He
discovered that keeping the pressure
constant, the volume of a gas varies on
changing its temperature. This became
known as Charles’ Law.
Charles’ Law states that at constant
pressure the volume of a confined gas is
directly proportional to its absolute
temperature. This only means that the
volume of a gas increases as its
temperature increases.
 V1T2 = V2T1

where,
V1 = initial volume
V2 = final volume
T1 = initial temperature
T2 = final temperature
Problem #1: Calculate the decrease in
temperature when 2.00 L at 21.0 °C is
compressed to 1.00 L.
V1T2 = V2T1
(2L)(T2) = (1L)(294K)

21°C + 273

°C = (°F -32) / 1.8

°F = 1.8°C + 32
K = °C + 273
Problem #1: Calculate the decrease in
temperature when 2.00 L at 21.0 °C is
compressed to 1.00 L.
V1T2 = V2T1
(2L)(T2) = (1L)(294 K)
(2L) (2L)
T2 = 147 K

147 K – 273 K

T2 = -126ºC
Problem #2: A gas occupies 900 mL at
a temperature of 27.0 °C. What is the
volume at 132.0 °C?
V1T2 = V2T1
(900ml)(405K) = (V2)(300 K)
(300K) (300 K)

V2 = 1215mL
 Problem #3 A sample of nitrogen gas is
heated from 27°C to 77°C at constant
pressure. What is the initial volume of the
gas if it ended with a volume of 576.5 mL?

V1 = 494.14mL

V1 = 576.5 mL
300 K 350 K

V1(350 K) = (576.5 mL)(300 K)

350 K 350 K
Answer the following with complete
solution.
1. A 50.0 ml soap bubble is blown in a
27.0°C room. It drifts out an open
window and lands in a snowbank at
-3.0°C. What is its new volume?

2. When the volume of a gas is

changed from ___ mL to 852 mL, the
temperature will change from 315 °C
to 452 °C. What is the starting
volume?
1. On all aerosol cans you see a warning that
tells you to keep the can away from heat
because of the danger of explosion. What
is the potential volume of the gas
contained in a 500.0 mL can at 255°C if it
were heated to 454°F.
2. At one point in history people could
measure temperature by looking at the
volume of a sample of gas. Suppose a
sample in a gas thermometer has a volume
of 1350mL at 162.3°F. Indicate what
temperature would correspond to each of
the following volumes: 113 mL, 142, mL, 155
mL , 127mL. Use the standard unit for
volume.
3. A car tire is filled with about 70 liters
of air on a summer day when the
temperature is a very warm 50°C.
What will the volume be on a very
cold winter day when the temp 3 is
-15° C?

4. A gas occupies a volume of 400cm 3

at 0°C and 780 mm Hg. What volume

(in liters) will it occupy at 80°C and 780
mm Hg?
5. A sample of O2 under 2.00 atm
occupies 500 ml at 25.0 ̊C.

A) What volume will the sample occupy

at 0.0 ̊C ?

B) What temperature will be needed to

produce a volume of 100 ml ?