Gases (Vapors)

Gases expand to fill any

container.

Therefore, gases are highly

compressible.

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 Kinetic Molecular Theory (of an Ideal Gas):

1. Gases are composed of molecules or atoms whose size

is negligible compared to the average distance between
them. (Most of the space in the gas container is empty.)

2. Gas molecules move randomly in straight lines in all

directions at various speeds.
3. The forces of attraction or repulsion between gas
molecules are very weak or negligible (except during
collisions)
4. Collisions between gas molecules are considered elastic.
5. The average kinetic energy of a molecule is proportional to
the absolute temperature.

2
We live in “sea of air”

molecules of air

2
Where is the pressure the greatest?
1

Why does a diver get the bends?

3
4
4 VARIABLES THAT CAN BE
ALTERED IN A GAS:
1. AMOUNT OF A GAS

2. VOLUME OF A GAS

3. TEMPERATURE OF A GAS

4. PRESSURE OF A GAS
STP - Standard Temperature and
Pressure
Standard Temperature is 0°C

All temperature calculations in a gas must be in

Kelvin (K).
Reminder: K = C° + 273
Standard Pressure is 1 atmosphere
(atm) at sea-level

Helpful Hint: There is more than one type of

pressure unit. Here is the conversion factor.
1 atm = 760 mmHg = 101 kPa
A way to describe the characteristics of a gas as
conditions change.

For each gas law certain variables (amount,

temp., pressure, volume) change while others
are assumed to remain constant.
Robert Boyle investigated the
relationship between the volume
of a gas and its pressure.

The other two variables, amount

and temperature, were assumed to
be constant (unchanged).
 Pressure and Volume: Boyle’s Law

How is the pressure applied to a gas related to its volume?

Gas molecules

Piston

Let’s apply pressure

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 Pressure and Volume: Boyle’s Law

How is the pressure applied to a gas related to its volume?

Gas molecules Gas molecules

Piston Piston

Volume is inversely proportional to applied pressure.

Boyle’s Law: P1V1 = P2V2

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The Harder we Push
the smaller the gas
volume gets!

Boyle’s Law: P1V1 = P2V2

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Boyle’s Results:
1. As pressure increases,
volume decreases.

2. As pressure decreases,
volume increases.

3. The volume of a fixed

amount of gas varies
inversely with the
pressure of the gas.
Boyles Law Equation:

P1 V 1 = P 2 V 2
SAMPLE BOYLE’S LAW PROBLEM:

A sample of gas has a volume of 2.5 liters at a

pressure of 800 mmHg. What is the volume when
the pressure drops to 500 mmHg?

A sample of gas has a volume of 2.5 liters (V1) at a

pressure of 800 mmHg (P1). What is the volume (V2)
when the pressure drops to 500 mmHg (P2)?
IDENTIFY THE EQUATION YOU WILL
USE:

P1 V 1 = P 2 V 2
PLUG IN YOUR NUMBERS FROM THE
QUESTION:

(800 mmHg)(2.5L) = (500 mmHg)(V2)

SOLVE: V2 = 4L
The volume of the lungs is measured by the volume of air
inhaled or exhaled. If the volume of the lungs is 2.400 L
during exhalation and the pressure is 101.70 KPa, and the
pressure during inhalation is 101.01 KPa, what is the
volume of the lungs during inhalation?
 The total volume of a soda can is 415 mL Of this 415 mL,
there is 60.0 mL of headspace for the CO2 gas put in to
carbonate the beverage. If a volume of 100.0 mL of gas at
standard pressure is added to the can, what is the pressure in the
can when it has been sealed?
It is hard to begin inflating a balloon. A pressure of 800.0 KPa is required to
initially inflate the balloon 225.0 mL. What is the final pressure when the
balloon has reached it's capacity of 1.2 L?
If a piston compresses the air in the cylinder to 1/8 it's total volume and the volume
is 930 cm3 at STP, what is the pressure after the gas is compressed?
 If a scuba tank that has a capacity of 10.0 dm3 is filled
with air to 500.0 KPa, what will be the volume of the air at
702.6 KPa?
 Temperature and Volume: Charles’s Law

How is the volume of a gas related to its temperature?

moveable mass
(constant pressure)

gas molecules

What happens if heat is applied to the gas?

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 Temperature and Volume: Charles’s Law
How is the volume of a gas related to its temperature?

moveable mass
(constant pressure)

gas molecules

Why did the volume change?

What happens to the average speed

of the gas molecules?
24 .
 Temperature and Volume: Charles’s Law

How is the volume of a gas related to its temperature?

moveable mass
(constant pressure)

gas molecules

Why did the volume change?

What happens to the average speed

of the gas molecules?
25 .
If I have 45 liters of helium in a balloon at 250 C and
increase the temperature of the balloon to 550 C,
what will the new volume of the balloon be?
Calcium carbonate decomposes at 12000 C to form carbon
dioxide and calcium oxide. If 25 liters of carbon dioxide are
collected at 12000 C, what will the volume of this gas be after
it cools to 250 C?
I have 130 liters of gas in a piston at a temperature of 250 0 C. If I
cool the gas until the volume decreases to 85 liters, what will
temperature of the gas be?
 Combined Gas Law (Boyle and Charles):

P1V1 P2 V2
 T must be in Kelvin
T1 T2
Can be rearranged to:

P1V1T2 = P2V2T1

A combined gas law problem can be recognized by

having two sets of conditions.
Note: if one set of parameters is unchanged that term
will cancel on each side.
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 A balloon contains helium gas with a volume of 2.60 L
at 25 oC and 768 mmHg. If the balloon ascends to an
altitude where the helium pressure is 590 mmHg and the
temperature is 15 oC, what is the volume of the balloon?

What type of
problem
is this?

There are 2 sets of

conditions.

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A balloon contains helium gas with a volume of 2.60 L at
25 oC and 768 mmHg. If the balloon ascends to an
altitude where the helium pressure is 590 mmHg and the
temperature is 15 oC, what is the volume of the balloon?