Kinetic Theory of Gases

The kinetic theory or Kinetic-molecular theory is a century-old model proposed to help in our

understanding of the behaviour of gases. It describe a gas as a large number of submicroscopic
particles (atoms or molecules), all of which are in constant rapid motion that has randomness
arising from their many collisions with each other and with the walls of the container.
Assumptions of the kinetic theory in relation to ideal gases
1. Molecules are in constant, random motion. The rapidly moving particles constantly collide
with the walls of the container which results in pressure.
2. The collisions of gas particles with the walls of the container holding them are perfectly elastic
(no energy loss)
3. The interactions among molecules are negligible. They exert no forces on one another except
during collisions.
4. The average kinetic energy of the gas particles depends only on the temperature of the system.
5. The volume of the individual gas molecules is negligible compared to the volume that the gas
occupies; most of the volume of a gas is empty spaces.
An ideal gas is one which obeys both Boyle’s AND Charles’ Law while a real gas is a gas that
does not behave as an ideal gas due to interactions between gas molecules.
Conditions needed to approach ideal gas behaviour
1. Low pressures
This allows for the volume of the gas to be large, allowing the assumption that the
volume of the individual molecules is negligible to the volume the gas occupies.
2. High temperatures
This allows for the energy levels of the molecules to be very high, resulting in no
attractions between individual molecules
Conditions which cause deviation from ideal gas behaviour
All real gases deviate slightly from the behaviour predicted by the ideal gas law because their
molecules do interact with each other and they have a finite volume.
High pressures would make the volume that the gas occupies very small. This nullifies the
assumption that the volume of the individual molecules is negligible to the volume the gas
occupies. Since the molecules in a real gas takes up part of the total space. For example at low
pressure 1 atm, volume of the molecules is 0.05%. However, at high pressure 500 atm, the
volume of the molecules is 20%.
Low temperatures result in forces of attraction between the molecules nullifying the third
assumption.
Gas Laws
The gas laws define the relationships between the four variables that determine the physical
properties of any ideal gas:
 Pressure (P)
 Temperature (T)
 Volume (V)
 Number of moles (n)
Boyle's Law
For a fixed mass of gas at constant temperature, the volume is inversely proportional to the
pressure.
What this means is that the product PV is constant when n and T are kept constant. That means
that, for example, if you double the pressure, you will halve the volume. If you increase the
pressure 10 times, the volume will decrease 10 times.
Charles' Law
For a fixed mass of gas at constant pressure, the volume is directly proportional to its absolute
temperature.
This means that V divided by T is constant when n and P are kept constant. This is expressed
mathematically:

That means, for example, that if you double the kelvin temperature from, say to 300 K to 600 K,
at constant pressure, the volume of a fixed mass of the gas will double as well.
Avogadro’s Law
Avogadro’s law states that the volume of a gas at a fixed pressure and temperature is directly
proportional to the number of moles of a gas present.
This means that V divided by n is constant when T and P are kept constant. This can be
expressed mathematically:
V V1 V2
V ∝n∨¿ =K at constant T ∧P ( k isa constant )∨ =
n n1 n2
So if the number of moles of a gas is doubled, the volume doubles; if the number of moles of the
gas is halved, the volume is halved.
1 mole of any gas occupies 22.4dm3 at 0℃ (273 K) and 1.0 atm pressure. This volume is called
standard molar volume.
Ideal Gas Law
The ideal gas law is a combination of all three of the gas laws discussed above. It describes how
the volume of a gas is affected by changes in pressure, temperature and number of moles. The
ideal gas law assumes that the particles of a gas have no volume and exert no force on one
another – hence the word ‘ideal’.
Ideal gas equation
The volume occupied by a gas depends on a number of factors:
i) the temperature: the hotter the gas, the faster the particles are moving and the more
space they will occupy
ii) the pressure: the higher the pressure, the more compressed the gas will be and the
less space it will occupy
iii) the amount of gas: the more gas particles there are, the more space they will occupy

The volume occupied by a gas does not depend on what gas it is, however: one mole of any gas,
at the same temperature and pressure, will have the same volume as one mole of any other gas.

The pressure, temperature, volume and amount of gas can be related by a simple equation known
as the ideal gas equation:

PV = nRT
P is the pressure measured in pascals (Pa) or Nm-2. One atmosphere, which is normal
atmospheric pressure, is 101325 Pa.

V is the volume in m3. Remember; 1 m3 = 1000 dm3 = 106 cm3.

T is the absolute temperature, measured in Kelvin (K). Remember; 0 oC = 273 K.

R is the molar gas constant and has a value of 8.31 Jmol-1K-1.

This equation can be rearranged to find the RMM of gases, using the relationship m = n x mr.

PV = mRT/mr, so the mass of one mole is given by mr = mRT/PV, where m is the mass in kg.
The answer m will also be in kg so it must be converted into grams.
Remember if the pressure is in kilopascals kPa, the volume HAS TO BE IN dm3, however if the
pressure is in pascals Pa, the volume HAS TO BE IN m3 1000 dm3 = 1 m3
Please note R is either 8.314 if pressure is in Pa or kPa, or it would 0.08216 if pressure is in
atmospheres (atm)
Exercise

1. A gas expands from a volume 2.0 L at 36 oC to a volume of 2.5 L, what is the final
temperature, if the pressure is constant?
2. A gas occupies a balloon with a volume 2.0 L at 33oC. How much volume will it occupy
at 37oC, if pressure remains constant?
3. What is the final pressure in a vessel when the volume is changed from 1.3 L to a volume
of 1.55 L at constant temperature? (Initial pressure is 1.5 atm).

4. What is the final pressure in a balloon when the volume is changed from 1.5 L to a

volume of 2.5L at constant temperature? (Initial pressure is 1.1 atm).

5. Given the following sets of values, calculate the unknown quantity.

a) P = 1.01 atm V =? n = 0.00831 mol T = 25°C
 b) P =? V= 0.602 L n = 0.00801 mol T = 311 K
6. At what temperature would 2.10 moles of N2 gas have a pressure of 1.25 atm and in a
25.0 L tank?
7. A student collected natural gas from a laboratory gas jet at 25 oC in a 500cm3 flask until
the pressure of the gas was 0.722 atm. The gas sample weighted 0.236g at 25 oC.
Calculate the molar mass of the gas.
Home-work
Use kinetic theory to explain liquid state, melting and vaporisation.