The Joy of Gas Laws Calculation

What pressure would the gas exert if the volume was decreased?

A sample of carbon dioxide occupies a volume of 3.50 Liters at 125 kPa pressure. What pressure would the gas exert if the volume was decreased to 2.00 Liters?

Answer:

The pressure of carbon dioxide if the volume is decreased to 2.00 Liters can be calculated using the combined gas law. Pressure of the carbon dioxide would be 218.75 kPa if the volume was decreased to 2.00 Liters.

Gas laws are essential in understanding the behavior of gases in different conditions. One of the fundamental gas laws is the combined gas law, which relates the pressure, volume, and temperature of a gas. In this scenario, we are given the initial pressure, volume, and asked to find the final pressure when the volume is decreased.

The combined gas law states that the pressure, volume, and temperature of a gas are related by the equation PV/T = constant. This means that if the temperature remains constant, then the product of the pressure and volume is a constant value. Mathematically, this can be represented as P1V1/T1 = P2V2/T2.

Given P1 = 125 kPa, V1 = 3.50 L, and V2 = 2.00 L, we can solve for P2 using the formula P1V1/T1 = P2V2/T2. Since the temperature remains constant, we can simplify the equation to solve for the final pressure, P2.

Therefore, the final pressure, or the pressure of carbon dioxide when the volume is decreased to 2.00 Liters, would be 218.75 kPa.

Understanding and applying gas laws, such as the combined gas law, allows us to predict and manipulate the behavior of gases in different conditions, making it a fascinating area of study in chemistry.