Ideal Gas Law

Derivation for the Equations of the Ideal Gas Law

There are several ways to derive the Ideal Gas Law, but the simplest way is to use the
three simple gas laws.
 Avogadro’s Law states the volume of a gas is directly proportional to the
number of moles (V ∝ n).
 Boyle’s Law states that the volume of a gas is inversely proportional to its
pressure (V ∝ 1/P).
 Charle’s Law states that the volume of a gas is directly proportional to its Kelvin
temperature (V ∝ T)
Method for Derivation
By combining these laws, we get
V ∝ nT/P

By converting the proportionality to an equality, we get

V = knT/P

By replacing k with the universal gas constant R, we get

V = nRT/P

This can be rearranged to give the Ideal Gas Law

PV = nRT
where:
 P is the pressure of the gas,
 V is the volume of the gas,
 n is the amount of substance of gas (also known as number of moles),
 R is the ideal, or universal, gas constant
 T is the absolute temperature of the gas

In SI units, P is measured in pascals, V is measured in cubic metres, n is measured in

moles, and T in kelvins (the Kelvin scale is a shifted Celsius scale, where 0.00 K =
−273.15 °C, the lowest possible temperature). R has the value 8.314 J/(K·mol) ≈ 2
cal/(K·mol), or 0.08206 L·atm/(mol·K).

The Gas Constant (R)

Repeated experiments show that at standard temperature (273 K) and pressure (1 atm
or 101325 N/m2 ), one mole (n = 1) of ideal gas occupies 22.4 L volume. Using this
experimental value, you can evaluate the gas constant R,

Under STP conditions, ideal gas has the following properties:

T = 273 Kelvin (273 K)

P = 1 atmospheric pressure (1 atm)
n = 1 mole
V = 22.4 Liters (22.4 L)
 𝑃𝑉 (1 𝑎𝑡𝑚)(22.4 𝐿)
𝑅= =
𝑛𝑇 (1 𝑚𝑜𝑙)(273 𝐾)
(𝐿·𝑎𝑡𝑚)
= 0.08205 (𝑚𝑜𝑙·𝐾)
When SI units are desirable, P = 101325 N/m2 (Pa for pascal) instead of 1 atm. The
volume is 0.0224 m3. The numberical value and units for R is

𝑁
(101325 ) (0.0224 𝑚3 )
𝑅= 𝑚2
(1 𝑚𝑜𝑙)(273 𝐾)
𝐽
= 8.314 (𝑚𝑜𝑙·𝐾)

Note that 1 L atm = 0.001 m3 x 101325 N / m3 = 101.325 J (or N m). Since energy can
be expressed in many units, other numerical values and units for R are frequently in
use.

Example Problems for Ideal Gas

 Problem #1: Determine the pressure of 22.4 liters of ideal gas at STP.

Given: V = 22.4 L

Required: P = ?

Equation: P = nRT/V

Solution:

𝑚𝑜𝑙
(1 𝑚𝑜𝑙)(0.08205 𝐿 𝑎𝑡𝑚 ∙ ( 𝐾 ))(273 𝐾)
𝑃=
22.4 𝐿
22.4 𝑎𝑡𝑚
𝑃 =
22.4

Answer: 𝑃 = 1 𝑎𝑡𝑚

 Problem #2: Determine the amount of 100 L ideal gas at the temperature of 300
K and at 1 atmospheric pressure.

Given:

T = 300 K V = 100 L P = 1 atm

Required: n = ?

Equation: n = PV/RT

Solution:

(1 𝑎𝑡𝑚)(100 𝐿)
𝑛=
𝑚𝑜𝑙
(0.08205 𝐿 𝑎𝑡𝑚 ∙ ( 𝐾 )) (300 𝐾)

100 𝐿 𝑎𝑡𝑚
𝑛=
24.615 𝐿 𝑎𝑡𝑚 𝑚𝑜𝑙

Answer:

𝑛 = 4.06 𝑚𝑜𝑙

 Problem #3: Determine the volume of 3 moles of ideal gas, at 100°C, at 3.14
atm.

Given:

n = 3 mol

T = 100°C (373.15 Kelvin) Note: K = 273.15 + °C

P = 3.14 atm

Required: V = ?

Equation: V = nRT/P

Solution:

𝑚𝑜𝑙
(3 𝑚𝑜𝑙) (0.08205 𝐿 𝑎𝑡𝑚 ∙ (
𝐾 )) (373.15 𝐾)
𝑉=
3.14 𝑎𝑡𝑚

91.8508725 𝐿
𝑉=
3.14

Answer:

𝑉 = 29.25 𝐿