CHM 131

GENERAL
CHEMISTRY

CHAPTER 6
The Gaseous State

Elements that exist as gases at 250C and 1 atmosphere

Physical Characteristics of Gases

Gases assume the volume and shape of their containers.

Gases are the most compressible state of matter.

Gases will mix evenly and completely when confined to

the same container.

Gases have much lower densities than liquids and solids.

NO2 gas

Pressure of a Gas
Velocity the change in distance with elapsed time. SI unit for velocity is m/s
Velocity =

Elapsed time

Acceleration the change in velocity with time. Acceleration is measured

in m/s2
acceleration =

Distance moved

Change in velocity
Elapsed time

The second law of motion defines another term, from which the units of
pressure are derived namely, force
Force = Mass x acceleration

The SI unit of force is the Newton (N)

1N=

1 kg m/s2

Force
Pressure = Area
(force = mass x acceleration)

Units of Pressure
1 pascal (Pa) = 1 N/m2
1 atm = 760 mmHg = 760 torr
1 atm = 101,325 Pa
6

Manometers Used to Measure Gas Pressures

closed-tube

open-tube

Apparatus for Studying the Relationship Between

Pressure and Volume of a Gas

As P (h) increases

V decreases

The Gas Laws

1. Boyles Law
2. Charless Law and GayLussacs Law
3. Avogadros Law

Boyles Law

The pressure of a fixed amount of gas at a

constant temperature is inversely
proportional to the volume of the gas

Boyles Law

P 1/V
P x V = constant
P1V1 = P2V2

Constant temperature
Constant amount of gas
P increase V decrease

A sample of chlorine gas occupies a volume of 946 mL at a

pressure of 726 mmHg. What is the pressure of the gas (in
mmHg) if the volume is reduced at constant temperature to 154
mL?

P x V = constant
P1V1 = P2V2
P1 = 726 mmHg

P2 = ?

V1 = 946 mL

V2 = 154 mL

P1 x V1
726 mmHg x 946 mL
P2 =
=
= 4460 mmHg
154 mL
V2
12

Charless Law and GayLussacc Law

Charles Law: The volume of a fixed
amount of gas maintained at constant
pressure is directly proportional to the
absolute temperature of the gas.
Gay-Lussacs Law: The pressure of a fixed
amount of gas maintained at constant
volume is directly proportional to the
absolute temperature of the gas.

Variation in Gas Volume with Temperature at Constant Pressure

As T increases

V increases

Charles & Gay-Lussacs Law

Variation of Gas
Volume with
Temperature
at Constant Pressure

VT
V = constant x T

Temperature must be in Kelvin

T (K) = t (0C) + 273.15

V1 = V2

P1 = P2

T1

T1

T2

Charles
Law

T2

Gay-Lussac;s
Law

P1V1 = P2V2
T1

T2

A sample of carbon monoxide gas occupies 3.20 L at 125 0C.

At what temperature will the gas occupy a volume of 1.54 L if
the pressure remains constant?

V1 = V2
T1

T2

V1 = 3.20 L

V2 = 1.54 L

T1 = 398.15 K

T2 = ?

T1 = 125 (0C) + 273.15 (K) = 398.15 K

V2 x T1
T2 =
=
V1

1.54 L x 398.15 K
3.20 L

= 192 K
16

A sample of hydrogen gas occupies 25 mL at 25 C and

120 Torr. If the volume of the gas is 250 mL at 300 Torr,
what is the temperature in degree celcius.
V1 = 25 mL=0.025 L
T1 = 25 C = 298.15 K
P1 = 120 Torr = 0.158 atm

V2 = 250 mL=0.25 L
T2 = ?
P1 = 300 Torr = 0.395 atm

P1V1 = P2V2
T1

T2

T2 = P2V2T1 = 0.395 atm x 0.25 L x 298.15 K

P1V1
0.158 atm x 0.025 L
= 7453.75 K 273.15
= 7180.6 C

Avogadros Law
At constant pressure and temperature, the
volume of a gas is directly proportional to the
number of moles of the gas present.
Constant temperature
Constant pressure

V number of moles (n)

V = constant x n

V1
n1

V2
n2

Ammonia burns in oxygen to form NO and water vapor. How

many volumes of NO are obtained from one volume of ammonia
at the same temperature and pressure?

4NH3 + 5O2
1 mole NH3

4NO + 6H2O
1 mole NO

At constant T and P
1 volume NH3

1 volume NO

5.00 L of a gas is known to contain 0.965 mol. If the amount of

gas is increased to 1.80 mol, what new volume will result (at an
unchanged temperature and pressure)?

V1
n1
V2 = V1n2 / n1
= (5.00 L x 1.80 mol) / 0.965 mol
= 9.326 L

V2
n2

Gas law
Boyles Law

The pressure of a fixed amount of

gas at a constant temperature is
inversely proportional to the
volume of the gas

Charless and
Gay-Lussacc Law

The volume of a fixed amount of

gas maintained at constant pressure
is directly proportional to the
absolute temperature of the gas.

Avogadros Law

At constant pressure and

temperature, the volume of a gas is
directly proportional to the number
of moles of the gas present.

P1V1 = P2V2

V1 = V2

P1 = P2

T1 T2

T1 T2
V1 = V2
n1 n2

Ideal Gas Equation

1
Boyles law: P (at
constant n and T)
V
Charles law: V T(at constant n and P)
Avogadros law: V n(at constant P and T)
nT
V
P

nT
nT
V = constant x
=R
P
P

R is the gas constant

PV = nRT

The conditions 0 0C and 1 atm are called standard

temperature and pressure (STP).
Experiments show that at STP, 1 mole of an ideal
gas occupies 22.414 L.

PV = nRT
(1 atm)(22.414L)
PV
R=
=
nT
(1 mol)(273.15 K)
R = 0.0821 L atm / (mol K)

What is the volume (in liters) occupied by 49.8 g of HCl at STP?

T = 0 0C = 273.15 K

PV = nRT
nRT
V=
P

P = 1 atm
1 mol HCl
n = 49.8 g x
= 1.37 mol
36.45 g HCl

1.37 mol x 0.0821

V=
V = 30.7 L

Latm
molK

1 atm

x 273.15 K

Argon is an inert gas used in lightbulbs to retard the

vaporization of the filament. A certain lightbulb containing argon
at 1.20 atm and 18 0C is heated to 85 0C at constant volume.
What is the final pressure of argon in the lightbulb (in atm)?

PV = nRT

n, V and R are constant

nR
= P = constant
T
V
P1
P2
=
T1
T2

P1 = 1.20 atm
T1 = 291 K

P2 = ?
T2 = 358 K

T2
= 1.20 atm x 358 K = 1.48 atm
P2 = P1 x
291 K
T1

Density (d) Calculations

PM
m
d=
=
V
RT

m is the mass of the gas in g

M is the molar mass of the gas

Molar Mass (M ) of a Gaseous Substance

dRT
M=
P

d is the density of the gas in g/L

a) Gas Density
Given that density for a gas is
measured in g/L, derive an equation for
gas density using the Ideal Gas Law.
mass =
Density, =

PV
RT
m
V

Molar Mass
= P(M.M)
RT

b) Determination of Molar Mass

Number of moles =

Mass (g)
Molar Mass (g/mol)

Derive an equation for molar mass using

the Ideal Gas Law.
PV = nRT
n =
mass =

PV
RT
PV Molar Mass
RT

A 2.10-L vessel contains 4.65 g of a gas at 1.00 atm and 27.0 0C.
What is the molar mass of the gas?

dRT
M=
P
2.21

M=

g
L

M = 54.5 g/mol

4.65 g
m
=
= 2.21
d=
V 2.10 L

x 0.0821

Latm
molK

1 atm

x 300.15 K

g
L

Gases in Reaction Stoichiometry

What is the volume of CO2 produced at 37 0C and 1.00 atm

when 5.60 g of glucose are used up in the reaction:
C6H12O6 (s) + 6O2 (g)
g C6H12O6

mol C6H12O6

6CO2 (g) + 6H2O (l)

mol CO2

V CO2

Mol CO2 = 0.187 mol CO2

V=

nRT
=
P

Latm
x 310.15 K
molK
1.00 atm

0.187 mol x 0.0821

= 4.76 L

Daltons Law of Partial

Pressure
The total pressure exerted by a mixture
of two or more non-reacting gases in a
definite volume, at any given temperature,
is equal to the sum of the partial
pressure, which each gas would exert if it
occupied the same volume alone, at the
same temperature

Daltons Law of Partial Pressures

V and T are constant

P1

P2

Ptotal = P1 + P2

Ptotal = P1 + P2 + P3 +.. = n1RT/V + n2RT/V + n3RT/V = ntotalRT/V

P1, P2, P3,..are the partial pressure of different gases in
the mixture
ntotal = n1 + n2 + n3 + .
Definition of mole fraction =

amount of one substance

total amount

ngas
Mole fraction of a gas (X): Xgas =
ntotal

Pgas
Ptotal

 The partial pressure of a component of a gas

mixture is equal to the mole fraction of the gas
times the total pressure of the mixture.

Pgas = Xgas PT

Consider a case in which two gases, A and B, are in a

container of volume V.

nART
PA =
V

nA is the number of moles of A

nBRT
PB =
V

nB is the number of moles of B

PT = PA + PB
PA = XA PT

nA
XA =
nA + nB

nB
XB =
nA + nB

PB = XB PT

Pi = Xi PT

mole fraction (Xi ) =

ni
nT

A sample of natural gas contains 8.24 moles of CH4, 0.421

moles of C2H6, and 0.116 moles of C3H8. If the total pressure of
the gases is 1.37 atm, what is the partial pressure of propane
(C3H8)?

Pi = Xi PT

PT = 1.37 atm

Xpropane =

0.116
8.24 + 0.421 + 0.116

= 0.0132

Ppropane = 0.0132 x 1.37 atm = 0.0181 atm

Example :
A 21.6 L container at 50C contains 3.00
g of He and 26 g Ne.
a) What is the partial pressure of each
gas?
b) What is the total pressure in the
container?
c) What is the mol fraction of each gas?

37

Solution:
nHe = 3/4 = 0.75 mol
nNe = 26/20 = 1.3 mol
PV = nRT
a)
PHe = nRT/V
= (0.75 0.0821 323) / 21.6
= 0.92
PNe = nRT/V
= (1.3 0.0821 323) / 21.6
= 1.60

b)
PT = ntotalRT/V
= (0.75 + 1.3) 0.0821 (273 + 50)
21.6
= 54.362 / 21.6
= 2.52
c)

XHe =
=
=

nHe
nHe + nNe
0.75
0.75 + 1.3
0.37

XNe

nNe
nHe + nNe

1.3
0.75 + 1.3

0.63

PHe = XHe PT
0.75
= 0.75 + 1.3 2.52
= 0.92
PNe = XNe PT
1.3
2.52
=
0.75 + 1.3
= 1.60

GRAHAMS LAW OF EFFUSION AND

DIFFUSION
Effusion refers to the passage of a substance
through a small orifice.

Grahams Law of Effusion states

that
The effusion of a gas through a small
orifice is inversely proportional to its
density
Effusion rate 1 / where = density

Or since the density of a gas is proportional

to its molecular weight, Mw

Effusion rate 1 /
Mw
The relative rates of effusion of two gases
at the same pressure and temperature are
given by the inverse square roots of their
densities.
Rate A = MB
Rate B
MA

Gas effusion is the process by which gas under pressure

escapes from one compartment of a container to another by
passing through a small opening.
r1
r2

t2
t1

M2
M1

Nickel forms a gaseous compound of the formula Ni(CO)x What is the

value of x given that under the same conditions methane (CH4) effuses
3.3 times faster than the compound?
r1 2
r1 = 3.3 x r2
x M1 = (3.3)2 x 16 = 174.2
M2 =
r2
x = 4.1 ~ 4
58.7 + x 28 = 174.2
M1 = 16 g/mol

( )

Diffusion refers to the passage of a one substance

through another.
An example for gases would be the passage of an
aroma, such as perfume or skunk smell, through still air.

Grahams Law of Diffusion states that

The rate of diffusion of a gas is inversely
proportional to the square root of its
density.
Diffusion rate 1 / where = density

Or since the density of a gas is proportional

to its molecular weight, Mw
Diffusion rate 1 / Mw

Gas diffusion is the gradual mixing of molecules of one gas

with molecules of another by virtue of their kinetic properties.
r1
r2

M2
M1

molecular path

NH4Cl

NH3
17 g/mol

HCl
36 g/mol

DEVIATIONS FROM IDEAL

BEHAVIOR
1 mole of ideal gas
PV = nRT
PV = 1.0
n=
RT

Repulsive Forces

Attractive Forces

REAL GASES

We know that all of the assumptions of

the kinetic-molecular theory cannot be
exactly true:
i) If there were no force of attraction
between molecules, then molecules
would not stay together in liquids or
solids.
ii) If molecules truly have no volume,
then liquids and solids would have no
volume either.

The Van der Waals Equation

The Van der Waals equation takes
account of both of these objections:
i) The volume available for gas
molecules to move around in, is NOT the
total volume of the container, BUT
the containers volume MINUS the
volume occupied by the molecules
themselves.
Vcorr = V nb
b = the volume occupied by the molecules

ii) Since molecules attract each other,

they will NOT hit the walls of the container
quite as hard, since they pulled back into
the gas just before they hit the wall.
- Thus, the corrected pressure (the
pressure the gas would exert if there were
no forces of attraction) is HIGHER than
the measured pressure.
- The term to be added is proportional to
the square of the concentration:

Pcorr = P
+

an2
V2

a = the attractive
forces between
gas molecules

Van der Waals equation

Non-ideal gas
2
an
( P + V2 ) (V nb) = nRT

corrected
pressure

corrected
volume