CHAPTER 2 Chemical quantities II. GASES.

Volumes of gases.
Avogadro's law
According to Avogadro's law, one mole of any gas occuppies the same volume under the same
conditions.
Definition
Avogadro's law states that equal volumes of gases under the same conditions of temperature
( 298K ) and pressure ( 1atm or 100kPa ) contain equal numbers of molecules.
The volume occupied by a gas depends on a number of factors:
i)
ii)
iii)

the temperature: the hotter the gas, the faster the particles are moving and the more
space they will occupy
the pressure: the higher the pressure, the more compressed the gas will be and the less
space it will occupy
the amount of gas (in moles) and NOT on the type of molecules :
the more gas particles there are, the more space they will occupy.

The volume occupied by a gas does not depends on what gas it is, however: one mole of any gas, at
the same temperature and pressure, will have the same volume as one mole of any other gas.
Definition of Molar volume of any gas:
This is the Volume of one mole of the gas under given conditions of T and P.

*IMPORTANT
THE VOLUME OCCUPIED BY ANY GAS AT 273K (0C) AND 100kPa PRESSURE IS
ABOUT 22.4 SQUARE DM (dm). These are conditions of Standard Temperature &
Pressure (STP).
If the temperature rises to around 298K (25 C ) the volume of one mole of gas is about 24dm-3
at 100kPa.
The pressure, temperature, volume and amount of gas can be related by a simple equation known as
the ideal gas equation:
Dr. Andrew Matovu

PV = nRT
P is the pressure measured in pascals (Pa) or Nm-2. One atmosphere, which is normal atmospheric
pressure, is 101325 Pa.
V is the volume in m3. Remember; 1 m3 = 1000 dm3 = 106 cm3.
T is the absolute temperature, measured in Kelvin (K). Remember; 0 o C = 273 K.
R is the molar gas constant and has a value of 8.31 Jmol-1K-1.

This equation can be rearranged to find the density of gases and the RMM of gases, using the
relationship m = n x mr.
PV = mRT/mr, so the mass of one mole is given by mr = mRT/PV, where m is the mass in kg. The
answer m will also be in kg so it must be converted into grams.
The density of a gas, or mass/volume, is given by (m/V) = mrP/RT.

Pressure
definition: pressure = force/area
units
Unit

Symbol

Conversions

pascal

Pa

1 Pa = 1 N/m2

psi

lb/in2

atmosphere

atm

bar
torr
millimeters of
mercury

bar
torr

1 atm = 101325 Pa =
14.7 lb/in2
1 bar = 100000 Pa
760 torr = 1 atm

mm Hg

1 mm Hg = 1 torr

Dr. Andrew Matovu

Calculation of Reactions involving gase only.

(a) Whenever gases are involved in a reaction you need to remember that they have both mass and
volume and that 1 mole of any gas has the same volume, 24 000 cm3, at room temperature
and 1 atmosphere pressure as 1 mole of any other gas.
This means:
2 g of hydrogen, H2, has a volume of 24 000 cm
32 g of oxygen, O2, has a volume of 24 000 cm
81 g of hydrogen bromide, HBr, has a volume of 24 000 cm
The effect of this is to make calculations involving gas volumes much easier than you might
expect.
Consider the following reaction:
2NO(g) +
O2(g)
2NO2(g)
This says:
2 moles of NO(g) react with 1 mole of O2(g) to give 2 moles of
NO2(g)
(2 x 24 000) cm of NO react with (1 x 24 000) cm of oxygen to give (2 x 24 000) cm
of NO2 2 cm of NO react with 1 cm3 of oxygen to give 2 cm of NO2
ie for gases only the reacting volume ratios are the same as the reacting mole ratios in the
equation.
Example 1
What volume of sulphur trioxide would be produced by the complete reaction of 100 cmof
sulphur dioxide with oxygen? What volume of oxygen would be needed to just react with the
sulphur dioxide?
2SO2(g)
+
O2(g)

2SO3(g)
Ratios 2
ie 1
100 cm3

1
1/2
50 cm3

2
1
100 cm3

Thus 100 cm3 of sulphur dioxide will need 50 cm3 of oxygen and produce 100 cm3 of
sulphur dioxide.

Dr. Andrew Matovu

Example 2
What would be the composition of the final product in Example 1 if 100 cm3 of oxygen had
been used rather than 50 cm3?
Since 100 cm3 of the sulphur dioxide needs only 50 cm3 of oxygen there must be 50 cm3 of
oxygen unused. Thus the final volume is:
100 cm3 of sulphur dioxide plus 50 cm3 of excess oxygen = 150 cm3
Example 3
What volume of ammonia would be produced if 10 cm3 of nitrogen was reacted with 20 cm3 of
hydrogen?
N2(g)
+
3H2(g)
2NH3(g)
You need to think before you start this question. The reacting volumes given in the question are
not the same as those in the reaction. You must have excess of one of the gases.
From the equation:
10 cm3 of nitrogen needs 30 cm3 of hydrogen. You only have 20 cm3 of hydrogen so the
nitrogen is in excess.
In this case you will need to use the hydrogen volume in the calculation.
Ratios

N2(g)
+
1
1/3
1/3 x 20
6.67 cm 3

3H2(g)
3
1
20
20cm3

2NH3(g)
2
2/3
2/3 x 20
13.33 cm3

Thus 20 cm3 of hydrogen will react to give 13.33 cm3 of ammonia and there will be 3.33 cm3 of
hydrogen left over.

The following equation is the mathematical statement of the

ideal gas law.
PV = nRT
in which:
P = the pressure of a sample of gas
V = the volume of a sample of gas
n = the number of moles of gas present
T = the Kelvin temperature of the gas
R = the ideal gas constant, which combines standard nditions
and molar volume into a single constant
The value of the ideal gas constant, R , depends on the units of P and V
being used in the equation. Temperature is always in kelvins and amount
of gas is always in moles. The most common values used for R are shown below.

Dr. Andrew Matovu

Units of P and V
Value of R
___________________________________________________
Atmospheres and liters
0.0821 L.atm/mol.K
__________________________________________________________
Kilopascals and liters

8.314 L.kPa/mol.K

___________________________________________________________

Sample problem 1

An engineer pumps 5.00 mol of carbon monoxide gas into a

cylinder that has a capacity of 20.0 L. What is the pressure in kPa of CO inside the
cylinder at 25C?

Solution:
Use the ideal-gas-law equation, pV =nRT but solve for pressure, P = nRT/V
be careful the temp must be in kelvin ( 273+25 =298K). The problem asks for pressure in kPa, so
use R= 8.314 m3.kPa/mol.K.
5.00 mol x 8.314m3.kPa/mol.K x298K
P
= _______________________________
=
619 kPa
20.0 m3
the red colours ( volume cancels out), as well as blue ( temp) and yellow
(amounts in mols), leavipnp the ppressure in kPa as the units.

Ideal Gas Law Example:

Case 1: Find the volume from the 0.250 moles gas at 200kpa and 300K temperature.
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P = 200 kPa,
n = 0.250 mol, T = 300K, R = 8.314 J K-1 mol-1
Step 1:
Substitute the values in the below volume equation:
Volume(V) = nRT / P = (0.250 x 8.314 x 300) / 200
= 623.55 / 200
Volume(V) = 3.12 L
This example will guide you to calculate the volume manually.
Case 2: Find the temperature from the 250ml cylinder contaning 0.50 moles gas at
153kpa.V = 250ml -> 250 / 1000 = 0.250 L, n = 0.50 mol, P = 153 kPa, R = 8.314 J
K-1 mol-1
Step 1:
Substitute the values in the below temperature equation:
Temperature(T) = PV / nR
= (153 x 0.250) / (0.50 x 8.314)
= 38.25 / 4.16
Temperature(T) = 9.2 K This example will guide you to calculate the temperature
manually.
Case 3:
Calculate the mass of chlorine in a 3dm cylinder at 30 C if it exerts a pressure of
100kPa.
Think about a relationship that relates moles to mass ! Of course it is:
Amount (moles) = mass (g) / Mr (relative molecular mass).

Dr. Andrew Matovu

Use correct units:

convert 100kPa into = ( 100 x1000) = 100000 Pa
convert 27 C into = 303 K
convert 3dm into = 0.0003 m
Substitute the values in pV = nRT , where n =mass/Mr ( for Cl, Mr = 70 )
10000 x 0.0003 = ( mass/Mr ) = mass/70 x 8.314 x 303
mass = 10000 x0.0003 x 70/ 8.314 x 303
= 210/2519.14
= 0.0834g of chlorine

Case 4:
In an experiment to determine the relative molecular mass of butane (Mr), liquid
butane (lighter gas) in a pressurised can was bought from a supermaket. It was
attached to a delivery tube in the diagram below.

Method.
1. The can of butane is weighed.
2. The apparatus is set up asin the diagram above.
3. The valve on the can is depressed and the gas released is collected over water in
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an inverted measuring cylinder

4.The level of water in the trough is adjusted to equal the level of water in the
cylinder, so that the pressure of the gas can is the same as atmospheric pressure. The
volume collected is recorded.
5. Atmospheric pressure is also recoded using a barometer.
6. Room Temperature is also recorded. Using a thermomter.
7 The can of butane is reweighed.
Results.
1. Loss of mass of butane can
2. Room temperature
3. Atmospheric pressure
4.Volume of gas collected

= 0.589g this equals the mass of gas used.

=16 C.
=102kPa.
= 248cm.

Calculation.
Using the ideal gas equation pV = nRT and [n = m (mass)/Mr ]
Mr = mRT/pV, where
m= 0.589g,
R= 8.31JK/K.mol,
T = (16+273) =289 K,
p =102x1000 Pa, and
V= 248x 106 m,

0.589 x 8.32 x 289

_______________
102 x10 x248 x106 m
1414.54
= ______
25.296

Dr. Andrew Matovu

= 55.9

Butane has the formula C4H10 , so its Mr should equal 58. An

experimentally determined value of 55.9 is acceptable within the limitations of

exerimental errors ( eve the purchased can from the supermarket may not be pure
butane).

Dr. Andrew Matovu