Alex Harutunian

Gas Lectures
Gas Lecture 1
Kinetic Molecular Theory
1. Gas Particles are Small. The volume they occupy is negligible.
2. Particles are in constant motion and collide with the container they are
in, which causes pressure.
3. Particles do not interact, i.e. IMF's do not apply.
4. Average kinetic energy of gas molecules is proportional to the
temperature of the gas (K)
Ideal Gas Law

PV = nRT
o P = Pressure (atm)
o V = Volume (L)
o n = moles of gas
o R = 0.0821 (L*atm/mol*K)
o T = Temperature (K)
This is just "ideal". While it works under some conditions, sometimes it
breaks down.

Assumptions of Ideal Gas Law

Gas particles don't interact

Gases don't take up space

Deviation from Ideal Behavior

Gas molecules can interact

Some molecules behave more ideally than others
Stronger IMF's = less ideal

Low pressure and high temp favor ideal behavior

High pressure and low temp favor deviation from ideal behavior
How temp and pressure affect ideal behavior
Root Mean Square Velocity

Kinetic energy is like momentum: depends on size and speed

Smaller molecules move faster than larger molecules at the same
temp.

Alex Harutunian

Speed can be calculated using: urms =

M is molar mass in kg/mol (T in K)

3 RT
M

Effusion

Gas leaking out of a "tiny, pinhole-sized leak"

speed at which a molecule is going to leave is going to be related to its

speed which is going to be related to its molar mass.
Graham's Law of Effusion

M2
M1

Gas Lecture 2
Partial Pressures

Alex Harutunian

Pressure and moles are directly related: one goes up so does the other.
Px = Ptot * X
X = Px/Ptot
Molar Mass via Gas Density
M=

g
mol

D=

g
L

STP
conditons

0o C
1 atm

1 mol of any gas at STP is 22.4 L