CHAPTER 12: GASES

S E C T I O N 1 : C H A RAC T E R I S T I C S O F G A S E S

LEARNING OUTCOMES
1. Describe the general properties of gases
2. Define pressure and give the SI unit for
pressure
3. Convert between standard units of pressure
4. Relate the kinetic-molecular theory to the
properties of an ideal gas

PROPERTIES OF GASES
1. Gases are fluids
.Fluid means any
substance that can
flow
.Gases are able to
flow because they
are far apart and
are able to move
past each other
easily

PROPERTIES OF GASES
2. Gases have low
density
.Density means the
degree of
compactness of a
substance
.Most of the volume
occupied by a gas is
empty space
because of the large
distance between
gas particles

PROPERTIES OF GASES
4. Gases completely
fill a container
.A gas completely fills
its container.
.Gas particles are
constantly moving at
high speeds so it
expands to fill the
entire volume
available.

GAS PRESSURE
All gases have mass
(kg); therefore, they
have weight (N)in a
gravitational field.
Because they have
weight, they exert force
when colliding with
objects and each other.
Collision of gas
molecules are what
cause gas pressure

GAS PRESSURE
Consider air which makes
up our atmosphere as
gas molecules are pulled
towards the Earth, they
collide with each other
and with the surface of
the Earth.
The closer they get to the
Earth, the more they
collide. The more
collisions, the greater the
air pressure

MOLECULAR SPEED
Although the molecules in a sample of gas have
an average kinetic energy (and therefore an
average speed) the individual molecules move at
various speeds
Some are moving fast, others relatively slowly
At higher temperatures at greater fraction of the
molecules are moving at higher speeds

MOLECULAR SPEED

GAS PRESSURE
Pressure = force exerted per unit area of surface
To find pressure, you need to know the force and
the area over which that force is exerted.
The SI unit of pressure is the pascal, Pa, which is
the force of one Newton applied over an area of
one square meter
1 Pa = 1N/1m2
As air molecules get closer to Earth, they become
more compacted by the weight of the air
molecules above, causing more collisions across
the same area of land and so increasing the air
pressure

GAS PRESSURE & THE KINETIC THEORY

OF GASES
1 Pa = 0.001 kilopascals (kPa)
1 Pa = 1N/1m2
Calculate the following:
1. What pressure in Pascals is exerted if a force of
10.0 N is applied over an area of 2.5 m2?
2. What pressure in Pascals is exerted if a force of
400.0 N is applied over an area of 4.0m2?
3. Express 140,304 Pa in kPa
4. Express 40 kPa in Pa

PRESSURE UNITS
Unit

Abbreviati
on

Equivalent number
of Pascals

Atmosphere

atm

1 atm = 101 325 Pa

Bar

bar

1 bar = 100 025 Pa

Millimeter of mercury

mm Hg

1 mm Hg = 133.322
Pa

Pascal

Pa

Pounds per square inch

psi

1 psi = 6.892 86 x 103

Pa

Torr

torr

1 torr = 133.322 Pa

CONVERTING BETWEEN PRESSURE

UNITS
Convert the pressure of 1.000 atm to millimeters
of mercury.
From table 1 (p. 420):
1 atm = 101 325 Pa
1 mm Hg = 133.322 Pa
We use Pascals to convert, as we know the value in Pa for
both units.
1.000 atm
101=325 Pa
Hg xmm
133. 322 Pa
= 760.0 mm Hg

CONVERTING BETWEEN PRESSURE

UNITS
Convert the pressure of 35.0 bar to torr.
From table 1 (p. 420):
1 bar = 100 025 Pa
1 torr = 133.322 Pa
We use Pascals to convert, as we know the value in Pa for
both units.
35.0 barTorr
x 100
= 025 Pa
133. 322 Pa
= 26, 259 torr

THE KINETIC-MOLECULAR THEORY

The kinetic-molecular theory is a model that is
used to predict gas behavior. There are 4
assumptions:
1. Gases consist of particles which are separated
by great distances and which posses negligible
volume
2. Molecules are in continuous, rapid motion
3. Gas molecules collide with each other and with
the walls of a container without any loss of
energy
4. Average kinetic energy of particles is
proportional to the absolute temperature

HOW DOES THE K-M THEORY EXPLAIN

THE PROPERTIES OF GASES?
Assumption

Property explained

Gases consist of particles which

Gases are fluids,
are separated by great distances Gases are highly compressible
and which posses negligible
Gases have low densities
volume
Molecules are in continuous,
random motion

Gases fill a container completely

Gases travel in straight lines
Gas particles are not all travelling at
the same exact speed temperature
is a measure of the average kinetic
energy

Gas molecules collide with each

other and with the walls of a
container without any loss of
energy

Gas pressure A gas exerts pressure

through the collision of its particles
with itself and with the walls of its
container

Average kinetic energy of

particles is proportional to the

As you increase the temperature of a

gas, you increase the average kinetic

GASES
S E C T I O N 2 : T H E G A S L AW S

MEASURABLE PROPERTIES OF GASES

For this section we will deal with the variables
listed below:
Unit

Abbr.

Pressure exerted by the gas

Temperature in Kelvins of the gas

Total volume occupied by the gas

Number of moles of the gas

OVERVIEW
Relationship

Law

Pressure-Volume Relationship

Boyles Law

Temperature-Volume
Relationship

Charless Law

Temperature-Pressure
Relationship

Gay-Lussacs Law

Volume-Molar Relationship

Avogadros Law

BOYLES LAW:
PRESSURE-VOLUME RELATIONSHIP
Boyles law states that:
For a fixed amount of an ideal gas kept as a fixed
temperature, pressure and volume are inversely
proportional.

P1V1 = P2V2

SOLVING PRESSURE-VOLUME PROBLEMS

A given sample of gas occupies 523 ml at 1.00
atm. The pressure is increased to 1.97 atm, while
the temperature remains the same. What is the
new volume of the gas?
Note: it does not matter what units you use for pressure and
volume, as long as they are the same for both sides of the
equation

P1V1

= P2V2

(1.00 atm)(523 mL) = (1.97 atm) V2

V2

= (1.00 atm)(523 mL)1.97 atm

= 265 mL

QUICK QUIZ
1. A balloon filled with helium gas has a volume
of 500 ml at a pressure of 1.4 atm. That
balloon is released and reaches an altitude of
6.5 km, where the pressure is 0.5 atm.
Assuming the temperature has remained the
same, what volume does the gas occupy at
this height?
2. A gas has a pressure of 1.26 atm and occupies
a volume of 7.4 L. If the gas is compressed to a
volume of 2.93 L, what will its pressure be,
assuming constant temperature?
3. State Boyles Law.

CHARLESS LAW:
TEMPERATURE-VOLUME LAW
Charless Law states:
For a fixed amount of gas at a constant pressure,
the volume of the gas is directly proportional to the
temperature of the gas
V1 = V 2
T1 T2

CHARLESS LAW:
TEMPERATURE-VOLUME LAW
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NplVuTrr59U

SAMPLE PROBLEM:
A balloon is inflated to 665 mL volume at 27C. It
is immersed in a dry-ice bath at -78.5C. What is
its volume, assume the pressure remains
constant?
Note: In gas law problems always convert temperature to kelvins.
The gas law equations do not work for temperatures in Celsius of
Fahrenheit

GAY-LUSSACS LAW:
TEMPERATURE-PRESSURE RELATIONSHIP
Guy-Lussacs Law states:
The pressure of a gas at a constant volume is
directly proportional to the absolute temperature
P1 = P 2
T1 T2

GAY-LUSSACS LAW:
TEMPERATURE-PRESSURE RELATIONSHIP
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N6DZRiSIK3s

SAMPLE PROBLEM
An aerosol can containing gas at 101 kPa and
22C is heated to 55C. Calculate the pressure in
the heated can.

VOLUME-MOLAR RELATIONSHIPS
In 1811, Amadeo Avogadro proposed the idea
that equal volumes of gases under the same
conditions have the same number of particles.

AVOGADROS LAW:
VOLUME-MOLAR RELATIONSHIP
Avogadros Law states:
"equal volumes of gases at the same temperature
and pressure contain the same number of
molecules regardless of their chemical nature and
physical properties
V = kn
(where k is a proportionality constant)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BY9VGS2eXas

Name

Relationship

Formula

Constants

Boyles Law

Pressure-Volume

Temperature

Charless Law

TemperatureVolume

Pressure

Gay-Lussacs
Law

TemperaturePressure

Avogadros
Law

Volume-Molar

Volume

Temperature &
Pressure

QUIZ

1. What law shows the mathematical relationship between

volume and pressure?
2. In Charless Law, what must remain constant in order for
the law to be true?
3. What is the relationship between temperature and pressure
at a constant pressure?
4. Identify which law is associated with each of these equations:
a.

b.

c.

5. The volume of gas in a syringe is 17.2 mL at 21.7C. What

will the volume of the gas be at 74.1C if the pressure is held
constant?
6. If 5.7 L of a gas at 350.0 kPa is expanded to 7.3 L at constant
temperature, what will be they new value of the pressure?