HWKC12_A.

MCD 12/8/2003

Solutions to:
Gas Law Homework Problem Set
Chemistry 145, Chapter 12

1. The volume of a bicycle tire is 1.35 liters and the manufacturer recommends a tire pressure of
125 PSI.
a. If you want the bicycle tire to have the correct pressure at 20.0 o C, what volume of air is
required at STP?
Information given in question:
V := 1.35⋅ liter
Note: you may work the problem
5 using any pressure units, BUT
P := 125 ⋅ psi P = 8.618 × 10 Pa
you must use the same units for
standard pressure and for the tire
T := ( 273.15 + 20) ⋅ K T = 293.15 K
pressure.

Conditions at STP (Standard Temperature and Pressure):

5
PSTP := 1 ⋅ atm PSTP = 1.013 × 10 Pa

TSTP := 273.15⋅ K TSTP = 273.15 K

Mathematical relationship (the combined gas law):

P1⋅ V1 P2⋅ V2
=
T1 T2

Rearranges to

V2
V1 = P2⋅ ⋅ T1
(T2⋅ P1)

Substitute in variables for this problem

V
VSTP := P⋅ ⋅ TSTP
(T⋅ PSTP)
VSTP = 10.699 liter
HWKC12_A.MCD 12/8/2003

b. If you fill the tire with nitrogen, what is the mass of the gas?

Calculate the moles of gas using the ideal gas law:

−1 −1
P⋅ V = n ⋅ R⋅ T R := 8.314510⋅ joule⋅ K ⋅ mole
P⋅ V
n :=
R⋅ T

n = 0.477 mole

Calculate the mass of the nitrogen:

−1
MW := ( 2 ⋅ 14.00674) ⋅ gm⋅ mole

mass := n ⋅ MW

mass = 13.372 gm

c. If you fill the tire with compressed gas from a 100.0 mL cylinder at 1.50x10 7 Pa, what is the
final pressure in the tire? Will it explode?

Information given in question:

Vcyl := 100.0 ⋅ mL
7 3
Pcyl := 1.50⋅ 10 ⋅ Pa Pcyl = 2.176 × 10 psi (VERY high pressure)

Mathematical relationship (the combined gas law):

P1⋅ V1 P2⋅ V2
=
T1 T2

Since the temperature is constant this simplifies to Boyle's Law

P1⋅ V1 = P2⋅ V2

Which rearranges to:

P2⋅ V2
P1 =
V1

Substituting in variables for this problem gives:

Pcyl⋅ Vcyl
P :=
V

6
P = 1.111 × 10 Pa
(Looks like you are pushing your luck and
P = 161.153 psi
this tire just might pop. Better be careful)
HWKC12_A.MCD 12/8/2003

d. You fill the bicycle tire to 125 PSI on a cold December day (-22 o F), and leave it until
a hot day in July (101 o F). What is the pressure of the tire (assuming that it does not
leak, does not change volume, and does not burst).

Information given in question:

Pdec := 125 ⋅ psi

Tdec :=  273.15 +  5 ⋅ ( −22 − 32)  ⋅ K

  Tdec = 243.15 K
 9 

Tjul :=  273.15 +  5 ⋅ ( 101 − 32)  ⋅ K

  Tjul = 311.483 K
 9 

Mathematical relationship (the combined gas law):

P1⋅ V1 P2⋅ V2
=
T1 T2

Since the volume is constant this simplifies to Charles's Law:

P1 P2
=
T1 T2

Rearrange and substitute in variables from above:

Pdec
Pjul := ⋅ Tjul
Tdec

Pjul = 160.129 psi (Looks like you may have a problem here)
HWKC12_A.MCD 12/8/2003

2. A fire extinguisher with a volume of 3.0 liters is filled with 150.0 grams of CO 2 . Assuming that it
is an ideal gas, what is the pressure at 20.0 o C?

Information given in problem:

Vextinguisher := 3.0⋅ liter

T := ( 273.15 + 20.0) ⋅ K

CO2 mass := 150.0 ⋅ gm

To solve this using the ideal gas law, we need to know how many moles of CO 2 .

−1 −1
CO2 MW := ( 12.0107 + 2 ⋅ 15.9994 ) ⋅ gm⋅ mole CO2 MW = 44.01 gm⋅ mole

CO2 mass
CO2 :=
CO2 MW

CO2 = 3.408 mole

The ideal gas law:

P⋅ V = n ⋅ R⋅ T

n := CO2
−1 −1
R = 8.315 joule⋅ K ⋅ mole

T = 293.15 K

V := Vextinguisher
(Note: Be certain to use units for all
n⋅ R⋅ T values so that they will cancel. Using
P :=
V this value of R (with SI units),
pressure should be in Pa. You must
6 always use absolute temperature
P = 2.769 × 10 Pa
units for gas law calculations. This
P = 27.33 atm gives volume in m3 (SI units).)

4
P = 2.077 × 10 torr

The volume at 1.0 atm and 25 o C after the CO2 is released from the fire extinguisher?
5
T := ( 273.15 + 25) ⋅ K P := 1 ⋅ atm P = 1.013 × 10 Pa

n⋅ R⋅ T (Note: Be certain to use units for all values

V :=
P so that they will cancel. Using this value of
R (with SI units), pressure should be in Pa.
3
V = 0.083 m You must always use absolute temperature
units for gas law calculations. This gives
V = 83.387 liter volume in m3 (SI units).)
HWKC12_A.MCD 12/8/2003

3. A diver is using a NITROX mixture (oxygen enriched air to reduce risk of decompression illness
and increase bottom time) to breath underwater. If the mixture is 36% oxygen and 64% nitrogen,
what is the partial pressure of oxygen (Pa) when the diver is at

a. sea level (1.0 atm)

5
P := 1.0⋅ atm P = 1.013 × 10 Pa
4
PO2 := P⋅ 36⋅ % PO2 = 0.36 P PO2 = 3.648 × 10 Pa PO2 = 0.36 atm

b. 33.9 feet (2.0 atm)

5
P := 2.0⋅ atm P = 2.026 × 10 Pa
4
PO2 := P⋅ 36⋅ % PO2 = 0.36 P PO2 = 7.295 × 10 Pa PO2 = 0.72 atm

c. 100 ft (3.9 atm)

5
P := 3.9⋅ atm P = 3.952 × 10 Pa
5
PO2 := P⋅ 36⋅ % PO2 = 0.36 P PO2 = 1.423 × 10 Pa PO2 = 1.404 atm

a. 500 ft (15.8 atm)

6
P := 15.8⋅ atm P = 1.601 × 10 Pa
5
PO2 := P⋅ 36⋅ % PO2 = 0.36 P PO2 = 5.763 × 10 Pa PO2 = 5.688 atm

4. A balloon used for sampling stratospheric ozone is filled with 150.0 kg of He. What is the volume
of the balloon when,

First we need to determine the number of moles of He:

5
Hemass := 150.0 ⋅ kg Hemass = 1.5 × 10 gm

−1
HeMW := 4.002602⋅ gm⋅ mole

Hemass 4
He := He = 3.748 × 10 mole
HeMW

n := He
HWKC12_A.MCD 12/8/2003

a. The balloon starts at sea level at a research station in Antarctica where the barometric
pressure is 755 mmHg and the temperature is -25 o C.
(Note: 1 millimeter of mercury
mmHg := 1 ⋅ torr
(mmHg) is equal to 1 torr.
This pressure unit was widely
T := ( 273.15 − 25) ⋅ K
used in the US, but it is not
5 recommended for SI units.
P := 755 ⋅ mmHg P = 1.007 × 10 Pa
The preferred unit is the
pascal (Pa).)
The ideal gas law:

P⋅ V = n ⋅ R⋅ T

rearranges to

n⋅ R⋅ T 3 5
V := V = 768.159 m V = 7.682 × 10 liter
P

b. The balloon rises to 10,000 ft (3048 m, the height of a medium size mountain) where the
instruments report that the temperature is -50 o C and the pressure is 6.368x10 4 Pa.

Information given in the problem:

4
T := ( 273.15 − 50) ⋅ K P := 6.368 ⋅ 10 ⋅ Pa

The ideal gas law:

n⋅ R⋅ T
V :=
P
3 3
V = 1.092 × 10 m

c. The balloon continues to rise, at 29,028 ft (8,848 m, the height of Mt. Everest and about
typical cruising altitude for a jet aircraft) the temperature is -70 o C and the pressure is
2.30x104 Pa.

Information given in the problem:

4
T := ( 273.15 − 70) ⋅ K P := 2.30⋅ 10 ⋅ Pa

The ideal gas law:

n⋅ R⋅ T
V :=
P
3 3
V = 2.752 × 10 m
HWKC12_A.MCD 12/8/2003

d. The balloon enters the stratosphere, at 65,000 ft (20,000 m, cruising altitude for a U2 spy
plane) the temperature is -50 o C and the pressure is 3.68x10 3 Pa.

Information given in the problem:

3
T := ( 273.15 − 70) ⋅ K P := 3.68⋅ 10 ⋅ Pa

The ideal gas law:

n⋅ R⋅ T
V :=
P
4 3
V = 1.72 × 10 m

e. The balloon reaches its maximum altitude of 100,000 ft (20500 m) the temperature is -3
oC and the pressure is 616 Pa.

Information given in the problem:

T := ( 273.15 − 3 ) ⋅ K P := 616 ⋅ Pa

The ideal gas law:

n⋅ R⋅ T
V :=
P
5 3
V = 1.367 × 10 m
HWKC12_A.MCD 12/8/2003

5. I recieved the following question from Larry Stratton ([email protected]), a retired civil
engineer. Assume a blocked length of pipe with a contained volume of 10 ft^3. Assume air is
injected until a pressure gauge reading of 3.5 psi is stabilized. Then assume an air leak at the rate
of 0.003 ft^3/min. How long will it take for the air pressure to drop to 2.5 psi gauge reading? In the
real world of low pressure air testing for sewer pipes, there are factors not considered here, i.e.,
type of pipe etc., but this will do as an exercise. [email protected]

Pinitial := 3.5⋅ psi

Pfinal := 2.5⋅ psi

Pdrop := Pinitial − Pfinal

3
Pdrop = 1 psi Pdrop = 6.895 × 10 Pa

3
V := 10⋅ ft T := 273.15⋅ K Assume standard temp

Pdrop⋅ V
n := n = 0.86 mole moles of gas that escapes
R⋅ T

Next find volume of air that escapes at STP

5
P := 10 ⋅ Pa
n⋅ R⋅ T
V :=
P

3 3
V = 0.02 m V = 0.689 ft

Time for the air to leak

3 −1
Leak := 0.003 ⋅ ft ⋅ min

V
time := time = 229.825 min
Leak

This problem set and the solutions were prepared by:

Scott Van Bramer

Department of Chemistry
Widener University
Chester, PA 19013
[email protected]
http://science.widener.edu/~svanbram