CHAPTER II

THE GASEOUS STATE AND GAS LAWS

Measurable Quantities of Gases Dr Tun Aung
(i) Mass (ii) Pressure (iii) Volume (iv) Temperature Lecturer

Volume of the Gas

The particles of gas are freely moving within the whole space of container.

Pressure of the Gas

The force acting on the unit area is known as the gas pressure.

Temperature of the Gas

At low temperature, the particles of a gas are moving with a slow speed. At high
temperature, they move faster resulting in the more frequent collisions on the
container. Variation of temperatures can affect the pressure and volume of the gas.

Volume – Pressure Behaviour

Boyles’ Law
When the temperature of a given mass of gas is kept constant, the volume of the gas is
inversely proportional to its pressure.
Mathematical expression;
V (mass and temperature are kept constant)
Where, V = volume of the gas
P = pressure of the gas

Volume-Temperature Behaviour
Charles’ Law
When the pressure of a given mass of gas is kept constant, the volume of the gas is
directly proportional to its temperature on the Kelvin scale.
Mathematical expression;
V & T (mass and pressure constant)
Where, V = volume of the gas
T = Kelvin temperature

Absolute Zero Temperature

The volume of the gas will become zero at – 273°C (or) 0 K. This temperature is
taken as the zero point of a new scale of temperature, (Kelvin temperature scale) and
also known as absolute zero temperature.

Relation of Kelvin Temperature and Celsius Temperature

T K = t C + 273
Relationship between Temperature and Pressure of Gases
When a volume of a given mass of gas is kept constant, the pressure of the gas is
directly proportional to its temperature on the Kelvin scale.
Mathematical expression;
P T (mass and volume are kept constant)
Where,T = Kelvin temperature of the gas
P = pressure of the gas
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Combination of Boyle’s Law and Charles’ Law

(Combined Gas Law)
Boyle’s law, V (mass and temperature are kept constant)
Charles’ law, V T (mass and pressure are kept constant).
By the combination of these laws;
V (mass is kept constant)

V = constant

= constant

= (Combined gas Law Equation)

Summary of the Gas Laws

Mathematical
Laws Variable Factors Constant Factors
Expression
Boyle’s Law Volume and Temperature and
Pressure Mass
Charles’ Law Volume and Pressure and Mass
Temperature
Avogadro’s Law Volume and Temperature and
number of Pressure
molecule
Dalton’s Law Ptotal = P1 + P2 + … _
Temperature
Graham’s Law of rate of diffusion Temperature and
Gaseous Diffusion and density of gas Pressure

STP
STP means standard temperature and pressure.
Standard temperature = 0 C or 273 K
Standard pressure = 760 mmHg or 1 atm

Molar Volume of Gases

One mole of every gas occupies 22.4 dm3 at STP and this volume is known as the
molar volume of gas.

Gay-Lussac’s Law of Combining Volumes of Gases

At the same temperature and pressure, the volumes of reacting gases and gaseous
products are in simple ratios of small whole numbers.
Hydrogen + nitrogen ammonia
3 volumes + 1 volume 2 volumes
Relative Density of Gas
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Relative density of a gas can be defined as the ratio of the mass of a volume of gas at
a certain temperature and pressure to the mass of equal volume of hydrogen at the
same temperature and pressure.

Dalton’s Law of Partial Pressures

When the temperature is kept constant, the total pressure of a gas mixture is the sum
of the partial pressures of different gases.
Mathematical expression;
Ptotal =
Graham’s Law of Gaseous Diffusion
At the same temperature and pressure, the rate of diffusion of a gas is inversely
proportional to the square root of the density of the gas.
Mathematical expression;
r (at the same temperature and pressure)
where, r = rate of diffusion of gas
d = density of gas
Important Formulae for Calculation
1. Boyle’s Law P1V1 = P2V2
2. Charlrs’ Law

3. Relation between
Pressure and
Temperature
4. Combined Gas Law
5. Dalton’s Law Ptotal = P1 + P2
Ptotal = Pdry gas +

6. Graham’s Law

7. Relation of Relative density = ½ × Relative molecular

Relative molecular of gas mass of gas
mass of gas and
Relative density of gas R.M.M of gas = 2 × R.d of gas
Units
Pressure mmHg (or) atm
Volume cm3 (or) dm3
Temperature ºC (or) K
Density gdm-3 (or) gL-1
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Some Problem for Gaseous State

1. A volume of a certain mass of gas occupies 952 cm3 at 561 mmHg. What is the
volume under 760 mmHg at the same temperature?
Initial state Final state
P1 = 561 mmHg P2 = 760 mmHg
V1 = 952 cm 3
V2 = ?
According to the Boyle’s Law
P1V1 = P2V2
V2 =

=
= 702.8 cm3

2. A certain mass of gas occupies 617 cm3 at 9 ºC. What is the volume at 0 ºC under
the same pressure?

Initial state Final state

T1 = 9 ºC + 273 T2 = 0 ºC + 273
= 282 K = 273 K
V1 = 617 cm3 V2 = ?
According to the Charles’ Law
=

V2 =

=
= 597.3 cm3

3. The pressure of gas at 27 ºC is 760 mmHg. What is the pressure of the gas at
87 ºC at constant volume?

Initial state Final state

p1 = 760 mmHg P2 = ?
T1 = 27 ºC + 273 T2 = 87 º C + 273
= 300 K = 360 K
=

P2 =

=
= 912 mmHg
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4. At 27 ºC and 750 mmHg, a gas occupied 380 cm3. What is the volume of the gas
at STP?
Initial state Final state
p1 = 750 mmHg P2 = 760 mmHg
V1 = 380 cm 3
V2 = ?
T1 = 27 ºC + 273 T2 = 0 ºC + 273
= 300 K = 360 K
According to the combined Gas Law Equation;
=

V2 =

=
= 341.3 cm3
5. What is the relative molecular mass of the gas that diffuses 4 times as fast as
oxygen? What is the molar mass of the gas? (O = 16)
rx =

= 4

= 32 gmol-1

4 =

16 =

Mx = = 2 gmol-1
Relative molecular mass of gas = 2
Molar mass of gas = 2 gmol-1
6. What is the relative rate of diffusion of hydrogen and oxygen? (H = 1, O = 16)
= 2 gmol-1
= 32 gmol-1

= 4

Hydrogen diffuses 4 times as fast as oxygen.

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7. Helium diffuses 4 times as fast as an unknown gas. What is the relative molecular
mass of the gas? (He = 4)
= 4 . rx

= 4

4 =

16 =
Mx = 64 gmol-1
Relative molecular mass = 64.

8. A gas occupies 500 cm3 at 17 ºC and 785 mmHg when it is collected over water.
The vapour pressure of water at this temperature is 15 mmHg. What is the
pressure of the dry gas at 17 °C?

Ptotal = Pdry gas +

Pdry gas = Ptotal +
= 785 – 15
= 770 mmHg
9. Total pressure of oxygen and acetylene gas storage tank is 7520 mmHg. The
partial pressure of of oxygen is 3400 mmHg. What is the pressure of acetylene?
Ptotal = Pacetylene +
Pacetylene = Ptotal +
= 7520 – 3400
= 4120 mmHg
Chemical Calculations Involving Gas Law and Theories
1. You are provided with 11.2 dm3 of hydrogen gas at STP. Find the amount of
hydrogen in (i) moles (ii) molecules (iii) gram (iv) amu. (H = 1)
(i) 22.4 dm3 at STP = 1 mol of H2
11.2 dm3 =
= 0.5 mol of H2
(ii) 1 mol of H2 = 6.02 × 1023 molecules
0.5 mol = 6.02 × 1023 molecules mol-1 × 0.5 mol
= 3.01 × 1023 molecules
(iii) 1 mol of H2 weighs = 2g
0.5 mol = 2 gmol-1 × 0.5 mol
=1 g
(iv) 1 molecule of H2 weighs = 2 amu
3.01 × 1023 molecules = 2 amu molecule-1 × 3.01 × 1023 molecules
= 6.02 × 1023 amu
2. 8 g of oxygen gas is given. Calculate the following.
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(i) moles (ii) molecules (iii) volume in dm3 at STP (iv) density of oxygen gas at
STP and (v) relative density of oxygen.
(i) 32 g of oxygen = 1 mol
8g =
= 0.25 mol
(ii) molecules = 0.25 mol × 6.02 × 1023 molecules mol-1
= 1.505 × 1023 molecules
(iii) volume at STP = 0.25 mol × 22.4
dm3 mol-1
= 5.6 dm3
(iv) density at STP =

=
= 1.428 gdm-3
(v) relative density of oxygen = ½ × relative molecular mass of the gas
= ½ × 32
= 16

Change of Volume with Temperature and Pressure

3. The volume of a certain mass of gas collected over water is 227 cm3 at 12 ºC and
762 mmHg. Vapour pressure of water at 12 ºC is 10.5 mmHg. What would be the
volume of dry gas at 15 ºC and 757 mmHg?
Ptotal = Pdry gas +
Pdry gas = Ptotal +
= 762 mmHg – 10.5 mmHg
= 751.5 mmHg
Initial state Final state
P1 = 751.55 mmHg P2 = 757 mmHg
T1 = 12 ºC + 273 T2 = 15 ºC + 273
= 285 K = 288 K
V1 = 227 cm3 V2 = ?
According to the Gas Law Equation,
=

V2 =

=
= 227.7 cm3
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Application of Gas Law to Problems Involving Chemical Reactions

4. 10 g of calcium carbonate is treated with dilute hydrochloric acid. The liberated
gas measured at 27 ºC and 750 mmHg is 1.85 dm 3. Find the percentage purity of
calcium carbonate. (C = 12, O = 16, H = 1, Ca = 40)
Change the volume to STP.
Initial state Final state
P1 = 750 mmHg P2 = 760 mmHg
T1 = 27 ºC + 273 T2 = 0 ºC + 273
= 300 K = 273 K
V1 = 1.85 dm3 V2 = ?
According to the Gas Law Equation,
=

V2 =
V2 = 1.661 dm3 at STP
CaCO2 (s) + 2HCl (aq) → CaCl2 (aq) + H2O (l) + CO2 (g)
1 mol 1 mol
(40 + 12 + 48) (12 + 32)
100 g 44 g or
22.4 dm3 at STP
At STP 22.4 dm3 of CO2 is obtained from 100 g of CaCO3
1.661 dm3 … = × 100 g
= 7.415 g
Percentage purity of CaCO3 =
= 74.15 %

xyfrHavhvmoifhaom ykpämrsm;
5. How many grams of Zinc will have to be treated with dilute hydrochloric acid to
liberate 1.85 dm3 of hydrogen at 27 ºC and 750 mmHg? (Zn = 65)

6. How many grams of sodium carbonate will have to be treated with dilute
hydrochloric acid to liberate 1.15 dm3 of carbon dioxide at 22 ºC and 755 mmHg?
(Zn = 65)

7. 0.2 g of a gas occupies a volume of 185 cm3 measured over water at 766 mmHg
and 22 ºC. Vapour pressure of water at 22 ºC is 21 mmHg. What is the volume of
the dry gas at STP?

8. 0.2 g of a gas occupies a volume of 185 cm3 measured over water at 756 mmHg
and 22 ºC. Vapour pressure of water at 22 ºC is 21.3 mmHg. What is the
approximate mass of the gas?

9. One mole of a gas occupies 27 litres and its density is 1.41 gL -1 at a particular
temperature and pressure. What is the molecular weight? What is the density of
the gas at STP?