Chapter (2)

The Gaseous State and Gas Laws

Gas
A gas is a substance which has no definite volume and shape. It fills up every
space it can enter and it takes up the volume and the shape of its container.
Gas Pressure / Pressure of the Gas
The force acting on the unit area is known as the gas pressure.
Pressure of gas =

Force
Area

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.

V
P

(mass and temperature are kept constant)

V = constant x

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.
V T (mass and pressure are kept constant)
V = constant x T

V1
T1

= constant

The volume of the gas will become zero at -273 . This temperature is taken
as the zero point of a new scale of temperature, (Kelvin temperature scale) and also
known as absolute zero temperature.
Absolute Zero Temperature = -273

V2
T2

TK=t

+ 273

T (mass and volume are kept constant)

P = constant x T

P
T

= constant

P1
T1

P2
T2

Combination of Boyles Law and Charles Law

Boyles law, V
Charles law, V

1
P

(mass and temperature are kept constant)

T (mass and pressure are kept constant)

By the combination of these laws,

V

T
P

(mass is constant)

V = constant x

Relation of Kelvin temperature and Celsius temperature

(or) 0 K

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.

1
P

PV = constant
P1V1 = P2V2

V
T

Absolute Zero Temperature

PV
T

= constant

T
P

P1 V 1

T1

P2 V 2
T2

* This equation is known as combined gas law equation.

Standard Temperature and Pressure (STP)
STP means standard temperature and pressure.
Standard temperature = 0

(or) 273 K

Standard pressure = 760 mmHg (or) 1 atmosphere (1atm)

Molar Volume of Gases
One mole of every gas occupies 22.4 dm3 at STP.
Note : The amount of the gas expressed as relative molecular mass in gram is
equivalent to one mole and occupies 22.4 dm3 at STP.
Gay-Lussacs Law of Combining Volumes of Gases
At the same temperature and pressure, the volume of reacting gases and gaseous
products are in simple ratios of small whole numbers.
hydrogen + nitrogen
3H2

N2

ammonia

2NH3

3 mol
1 mol
2 mol
3 volumes 1 volume 2 volumes
3
:
1
:
2
Avogadros Theory
At the same temperature and pressure, equal volumes of all gases contain the same
number of molecules.
V n (at the same temperature and pressure)
Where, V = volume of the gas
n = number of molecules
Avogadros Number (L) / Avogadros Constant
The number of carbon atoms present in exactly 12 g of 12C.
L = 6.02 x 1023
* The numerical value of the Avogadros Number was first determined by
Loschmidt and is now represented by the letter L to honour him.

Relative Density of Gas

Relative density of a gas is defined as the ratio of the mass of a volume of the gas
at a certain temperature and pressure to the mass of an equal volume of hydrogen
at the same temperature and pressure.
Relative density of a gas =

mass of a volume of the gas

mass of an equal volume of hydrogen

[Both gases are measured at the same temperature and pressure.]

Partial Pressure
The pressure exerted by each gas at the same temperature is the partial pressure of
each gas.
Daltons 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.
Ptotal = p1 + p2 + p3 .........
Where, Ptotal = total pressure of gas mixture
p1 + p2 + p3 .... = partial pressure of different gases.
Diffusion
The process by which the molecule of one gas spreads through the space created
between the molecules of another gas is known as diffusion.
Note : 1. Particles of gases are always in constant and rapid motion.
2.The lighter gas diffuses faster than the heavier one.

Grahams 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.
r

1
d

r = constant x
r

(temperature and pressure are kept constant)

1
d

= constant

r 1 d 1 = r 2 d 2

(or)

r 1 M 1 = r 2 M 2 (or)

Where, r = rate of diffusion of gas (cm3s-1)

r1
r2

M2
M1

d = density of gas (gdm3)

M = molar mass (gmol-1)