Chapter 15

Gas Laws
 Topic 1
State Parameters of Gas
State Parameters
State parameters of gas in macroscopic properties:
1. Pressure, p
2. Volume, V
3. Temperature, T
Temperature
Temperature, T = (θ + 273 ) K
where θ = temperature in degree Celsius
-> Kelvin temperature is also called as thermodynamic temperature

Different of Temperature

Different of temperature:
ΔT = Δθ
Volume of Gas

Volume of gas, V :

SI unit of gas = m3
Other common use unit = L, mL

Conversion of unit :

L = 103 mL
= 10-3 m3 = 1 dm3

1 mL = 1 cm3

= 10-6 m3

1 m3= 106 cm3

Density of air under Standard Temperature and Pressure, STP

(0 ⁰C, 1 Atm) is 1.29 kg/m3.
Pressure of Gas
Pressure of gas :
SI unit of gas pressure = Nm-2 = Pa (Pascals)

Common use of pressure unit :

1 atmospheric pressure = 1 atm = 760 mm Hg
= 101325 Pa = 1.01 x 105 Pa
1 mm Hg ≈ 133 Pa

P PO

P (gas) = PO (atmospheric pressure)

Example

P2 = PO + Ph P3 = PO - Ph
P1 = PO
Exercise
1) Find the gas pressure trapped in the end of the tube in cmHg and Pa.
Given that 1 atm, pO =76 cmHg = 1.01 x 105 Pa

m = mass of piston
S = cross-sectional
area

(a) = 73 cmHg b) = 86 cmHg (c) = 66 cmHg (d) = 76 cmHg + mg/S

= 9.70 x 104 Pa = 1.15 x 105 Pa = 8.80 x 104 Pa
2) Find the gas pressure in cmHg and Pa for air trapped in A and B
as shown in the figure where h1 = 20 cmHg and h2 = 15 cmHg.
[Given atm pressure, pO =76 cmHg = 1.01 x 105 Pa]
Solution
upward force = downward force
upward pressure = downward pressure
For A: pA + ph1 = pB
PA = 71 cmHg
For B: pB = ph2 + pO PB = 91 cmHg
3) Find the air pressure for each difference condition as shown in the figure below with
the acceleration a.
Atmospheric pressure is pO , p is trapped air pressure and m is mass of the piston.

(a)
(b) (c)
Solution
upward force = downward force upward pressure = downward pressure
(a) p = pO + ma/S (c) p = pO - [m(g – a)/S]

pO + ma/S = p + mg/S
(b) p = pO + mg/S + ma/S
p = pO + ma/S - mg/S
= pO - mg/S + ma/S

= pO – m ( g – a ) /S
 Topic 2
Equation of Ideal Gas
2.1 Ideal gas
1) gas (atom or molecule) moves randomly.
2) gas (atom or molecule) exerts no long range forces on each other.
3) gas (atom or molecule) is individually pointlike, occupying a negligible volume.
example of real gases which are near to be ideal gases under normal pressure and
temperature such as H2, O2, He, N2, etc)

2.2 Laws of ideal gas

NA = 6.02 x 1023 particles (atom / molecule) / mole

molar mass
mass of an atom or molecule =
NA

example: 4.00 g/mol

mass of a helium atom, mHe =
6.02 x 1023 atoms / mol

Number of molecules in the gas N

number of moles, n = =
Number of molecules in 1 mole NA
of gas
2.2.1 Thermal processes in gases
Three thermal processes in gases:
1) Isothermal process
2) Isochoric process
3) Isobaric process
(A) Isothermal process
Boyle’s law states that for a fixed mass of gas at constant temperature, its pressure
(p) is inversely proportionally to volume (V).
1
p α p/Pa
V
p1V1 = p2V2

p1V1 = C C = constant

p/Pa
T2
T1
T1 T2
V /m3

1/V /m3
(B) Isochoric process

Pressure law states that for a fixed mass of gas at constant volume, its pressure
increases as temperature rises.

p α T

p1 p2
= = constant
T1 T2
p
= constant
T
(C) Isobaric process
Charles’ law states that for a fixed mass of gas at constant pressure, its volume
increases by 1/273 of its volume VO at 0 ⁰C for each of degree centigrade rise in
temperature.
V α T
For a fixed mass of ideal gas
at constant pressure: V1 V2
= = constant
T1 T2

V
= constant
T

V/m3 V/m3
p2 p2

p1 p1

θ / ⁰C T /K
-273.15 ⁰C
(D) Gas equation
For a fixed mass of ideal gas, at least 2 or 3 parameters change:

pA VA Isothermal pB VB Isobaric pC VC
TA process TB process TC

From A to B: From B to C: Gas in state C

Gas in state A Gas in state B
TA = TB pB = pC

pAVA pBVB pCVC

= =
TA TB TC

pAVA pCVC
=
TA TC

pV Thus, for a fixed mass of gas, the ratio of the product of

= C pressure p and volume V to the temperature T is always a
T
constant.
Example
For a fixed mass of ideal gas under process change from state A to state D, as the
value shows in the figure, and if the pressure at state D is 2 x 104 Pa, what is the
pressure at state A?

Solution
VA = 1 m3 , TA = 200 K ,
VD = 4 m3, PD = 2 x 104 Pa
TD = 400 K

pAVA pDVD
=
TA TD

pA pDVD TA
=
TD VA

2 x 104 x 4 200 Pa
= X
400 1
= 4 x 104 Pa
Exercise
1. For a fixed mass of ideal gas, at one equilibrium state, the pressure,
volume and temperature is p1, V1 and T1 , under a process change to a
new state, the pressure, volume and temperature is p2, V2 and T2 .
Which relations of parameters below is the correct one?
A p1 = p2; V1 = 2V2; T1 = ½ T2
B p1 = p2; V1 = ½ V2; T1 = 2T2
C p1 = 2p2; V1 = 2V2; T1 = 2T2
D p1 = 2p2; V1 = V2; T1 = 2T2
2. In a car combustion chamber, the temperature of the mixture is 50 ⁰C,
pressure is 1.0 x 105 Pa and volume is 0.03 m3. During compression process,
volume is being compressed until 0.155 L. and the pressure increased to
1.2 x 106 Pa. The temperature increased to a higher temperature. Find the
final temperature of the mixture in degree Celsius. (Ans: 373 ⁰C).
3. A 20 L of copper container contains gas oxygen. At temperature 27 ⁰C, the
pressure is 1.0 x 106 Pa. Find the volume of the gas at STP (Standard Temperature
& Pressure). [STP : T = 0 ⁰C, 1 atm (1.01 x 105 Pa)
(Ans: 180 L).
4. An good insulated partition is placed in the middle of a proper sealed cylindrical
container as shown in figure. The insulated partition is flexible to move. The
pressure at each side of the partition is equivalent. If heat is supplied at the left
side volume of the container while keeping the temperature at the right side
volume at 0⁰C, the partition is moving to the right and stop at half of the right
side volume. Find the temperature of the gas at the left volume.
(Ans: 819 K).
 Topic 3
Applications of the
Equation of Ideal Gas
The ideal gas equation:

pV m
= R
T M m= mass of the gas;
M = molar mass;
pV R = universal gas constant
= nR
T = 8.31 J/mol. K

pV = n RT
Example
1 g of gas with volume 5 L, pressure 600 mmHg, and temperature 27 ⁰C.
For 2 g of same type of gas with pressure 400 mmHg and temperature 127 ⁰C,
what is its volume?
Solution
Given mass of gas, m1 = 1 g V1 = 5 L, p1 = 600 mmHg, temperature T1 = 27 ⁰C
m2 = 2 g, V2 = ? L, p2 = 400 mmHg, temperature T2 = 127 ⁰C
From pV m
= R
T M

M T1 m1
= (1)
R p1V1

T2 m2
M = (2)
R p2V2

V2 = 20 L
Example

A container contains oxygen with temperature 300 K, pressure is 1.0 x 106 Pa,
find the density of the oxygen. (Under STP, density of O2, = 1.43 kg/m3 )
Solution
Given mass of gas = m ; VO ; pO = 1.01 x 105 Pa, 1.43 kgm3,
temperature TO= 273 K ; V1 ; p1 = 1. x 106 Pa

From pV m
= R
T M density, ρ = m/V
p m ρR
= R =
T VM M

p pO
R
= ρ =
M T ρ O T2O

ρ1 = 12.88 kg m3
Exercise
1. A copper container contains 10 L of oxygen with pressure 90 atm and
temperature -13 ⁰C. Find the mass of the gas in the container. (1.33 kg)
m
use: pV = RT
M
2. An oxidize gas with mass 0.6 g has a volume of 480 x 10-6 m3 at pressure
1 atm and temperature 20 ⁰C. What is the molar mass of the gas? Name the gas.
( Ans: 30 g) m
use: pV = RT
M
3. The volume of a room is 20 m3. At temperature of 17 ⁰C and the atmospheric
pressure is 74 cmHg, the mass of the air is 25 kg. When the temperature
increases to 27 ⁰C, and the atmospheric pressure is 76 cmHg, what is the mass
of the air in the room? ( Ans: 24.81 kg) m
use: pV = RT
M
4. A car tire of volume 20 L contains air of pressure 1.5 atm at temperature 20 C .
After refilling the air, the pressure of the tire increases to 7.5 atm at temperature
25 C. If the air refilling is at temperature 20 C and pressure 1 atm, what is the
volume of the air need to be filled in the tire ( Ans: 117.7 L)
p1V1 p2V2
use: =
T1 T2