Boyle’s Law

Worksheet
Robert Boyle observed the
relationship between the pressure and
volume for a gas sample. These two
variables are inversely proportional. This
means that when the pressure goes up the
volume goes down. This is expressed in the
equation P1 × V1 = P2 × V2, which is known
as Boyle’s Law. The relationship between
pressure and volume is only observed
when the temperature and amount of gas
particles do not change. The graph shows
this relationship.

Sample Problem 1:

A scuba tank has a pressure of 19,300 kPa and a volume of 10.3 L. What would be the
pressure of the gas if it were transferred to a 50.0 L container?
Solve for: P2 (final pressure)
Given: P1 = 19,300 kPa V1 = 10.3 L V2 = 50.0 L
𝑷𝟏 𝑽𝟏
Equation: 𝑷𝟐 =
𝑽𝟐
Solution:
𝑷𝟏 𝑽𝟏
𝑷𝟐 =
𝑽𝟐

(𝟏𝟗,𝟑𝟎𝟎 𝒌𝑷𝒂)(𝟏𝟎.𝟑 𝑳)
=
𝟓𝟎.𝟎 𝑳
(𝟏𝟗,𝟑𝟎𝟎 𝒌𝑷𝒂)(𝟏𝟎.𝟑 𝑳)
=
𝟓𝟎.𝟎 𝑳
𝟏𝟗𝟖,𝟕𝟗𝟎 𝒌𝑷𝒂
=
𝟓𝟎.𝟎

𝑷𝟐 = 𝟑, 𝟗𝟕𝟓. 𝟖 𝒌𝑷𝒂

Sample Problem 2:

An argon gas occupies 56.2 L at 760 torr. If the volume of gas is decreased to ¼ of the
original volume, calculate its final pressure.
Solve for: P2 (final pressure)
1
Given: P1 = 760 torr V1 = 56.2 L V2 = ¼ V1 = (56.2𝐿) = 14.05 L
4
𝑷𝟏 𝑽𝟏
Equation: 𝑷𝟐 =
𝑽𝟐

Solution:
𝑷𝟏 𝑽𝟏
𝑷𝟐 =
𝑽𝟐

(𝟕𝟔𝟎 𝒕𝒐𝒓𝒓)(𝟓𝟔.𝟐 𝑳)
=
𝟏𝟒.𝟎𝟓 𝑳
(𝟕𝟔𝟎 𝒕𝒐𝒓𝒓)(𝟓𝟔.𝟐 𝑳)
=
𝟏𝟒.𝟎𝟓 𝑳
𝟒𝟐,𝟕𝟏𝟐 𝒕𝒐𝒓𝒓
=
𝟏𝟒.𝟎𝟓

𝑷𝟐 = 𝟑, 𝟎𝟒𝟎 𝒕𝒐𝒓𝒓
Activity:
Solve the following problems in a 1 whole sheet of paper. Show your solution.
1. The gas in a 400 mL balloon has a pressure of 1.30 atm. If the temperature
remains constant, what will be the pressure of the gas in the balloon when
it is compressed to 200 mL?

2. A tank of compressed CO2 has a pressure of 750 psi and a volume of 150
mL. What is the volume of this gas when the pressure is 25 psi?

3. Air fills a room with a volume of 5600 L. Atmospheric pressure is 740 torr.
What will be the pressure if all of the gas is pumped into an 80 L tank?
Convert this pressure to atm.

4. An air compressor has a volume of 110 L. What volume of gas is pumped

into the tank if the pressure goes from 750 torr to a pressure of 9.87 atm?