GASES
• Gases are one of the most pervasive aspects of our environment on the Earth. We continually exist
with constant exposure to gases of all forms.
• The steam formed in the air during a hot shower is a gas.
• The Helium used to fill a birthday balloon is a gas.
• The oxygen in the air is an essential gas for life.
General Properties of Gases
1.) Gases are highly compressible
An external force compresses the gas sample and decreases its volume, removing the external force
allows the gas volume to increase.
2) Gases are thermally expandable
When a gas sample is heated, its volume increases, and when it is cooled its volume decreases.
3) Gases have high viscosity
Gases flow much easier than liquids or solids.
4) Most Gases have low densities
Gas densities are on the order of grams per liter whereas liquids and solids are grams per cubic cm, 1000
times greater.
5) Gases are infinitely miscible
Gases mix in any proportion such as in air, a mixture of many gases
6)Gases are made up of molecules that behave differently.
7.) Particles of gases are random and scattered arrangement of its molecules which are located as far as
possible from each other because they have very weak intermolecular force of attraction.
8) Gases can be diatomic, consist of two atoms. Example O2, N2 and
Monoatomic, consist of one atom. Example Ne, Ar, He
9) No definite shape and volume
10) Gases expanded when heated and contracted when cooled
11) Gases exert pressure
12) Gases are invisible
Composition of gases in the atmosphere
Nitrogen- 78%
Oxygen- 21%
Trace gases- 1%
VOCUBULARY:
Molecules- is the smallest particle into which a substance can be divided without forming a new substance.
Gas Law Variables
• In order to describe gases, mathematically, it is essential to be familiar with the variables that are
used. There are four commonly accepted gas law variables
Temperature
Pressure
Volume
Moles
1. Pressure- P, is the measure of the amount of force per unit of surface area. If the gas is not in a
container, then P represents the pressure it could exert if it were in a container.
Units and equivalents for pressure
Pascal (Pa) Atmosphere (atm) Torr (torr) millimeter mercury (mmHg)
1atm= 760 torr= 760mmHg 1torr= 1mmHg
1atm= 101.325kPa 1atm= 1.01325 x 105 Pa
1Pa= 1newton= 1kgm/s2 1atm= 29.9 inch of Hg
Barometer- is an instrument use to measure the pressure. It was invented by Evangelista Torricelli, an
Italian Physicist and mathematician in 1643.
Manometer – an instrument used to measure gas pressure in a closed container
2. Volume (V)- is the amount of space occupied by the gases.
The Volume variable is represented by the symbol V.
Units use to measure volume
Cubic meter (m3) cubic centimeter (cm3)
Liter (L) Milliliter (mL)
3. Temperature (T)- is the measure of the coldness or hotness of the gas.
- temperature of a gas is determined using thermometer
Units use to measure temperature
0
Degrees Celsius ( C)- named after Swedish astronomer ANDERS CELSIUS,
Degrees Fahrenheit (0F)- named after German instrument maker, GABRIEL DANIEL FAHRENHEIT
Kelvin (K)- named after British physicist Lord Kelvin (1824-1907)
Note: only Kelvin is used in computations involving the temperature of a gas
4. Amount of gases (Mole)
The symbol that represents the moles of gas is n.
5. Density- is a substance mass per unit of volume.
Units use to measure density
g/L kg/mL
Standard Temperature and Pressure (STP)
P= 1atm or 760 torr or 101.325kPa
T= 00C or 273.15K or 680F
Molar volume= 22.4L/mol
Sample Problem:
1. Biologist who study microorganism carry out many of their experiments at 370C. This is the normal human
body temperature. What is this temperature in degrees Fahrenheit?
2. Liquid oxygen is used in liquid fuel rockets. Its boiling point is -1830C. What is this temperature in Kelvin?
3. Helium boils at about 4K. What is the temperature in degrees Fahrenheit?
4. A piece of beeswax with a volume of 8.50cm3 is found to have a mass of 8.06g. What is the density in
kg/mL of the beeswax.
5. Cobalt is a hard magnetic metal that resembles iron in appearance. It has density of 8.90g/cm3. What
volume would 17.8g of cobalt have?
Prepared by:
LIBERTY ARNIELYN D. NABUA
Science Teacher
