When a gas is heated, its molecules gain KE and move about at greater speeds.

The KE gained may cause volume and pressure of the gas to increases.

BOYLE’S LAW
The pressure of a fixed mass of a gas is inversely proportional to the
volume, provided the temperature is kept constant.
ie as pressure increase volume decreases.
𝟏
P ∝𝐕
PV = Constant
Hence at a constant temperature, if pressure is changed from P1 to P2 then the
volume changes from V1 to V2.
P1 V 1 = P2 V 2
EXP TO VERIFY BOYLE’S LAW
Apparatus
Thick walled J – shaped glass tube, oil, Bourdon pressure gauge, foot pump, scale
(meter rule).
0
Enclosed air Bourdon Pressure
10 gauge
20 h 0
75 25
30 50

40 To pump
50 X 10 Pa
5

Volume scale Oil

60
(ruler) 70

~ The pressure of the enclosed air is increased by pushing the oil from the pump.
~ Record various values of volume from the volume scale for different
pressures values from the Bourdon gauge.
𝟏
~ Plot a graph of pressure against
𝐕𝐨𝐥𝐮𝐦𝐞
The graph obtained is a straight line thru the origin

1/V

Assumptions made
~ The tube is of uniform cross- section hence the volume is read from
the ruler.
~ The temperature is taken to be constant since the exp is done at room
temperature
F O R M 3 N O T E S: GAS LAWS Pg1
A graph of Pressure against Volume is as follows.

P As pressure increases the volume

reduces.

V
EXAMPLES
1. 1.6m3of H2 gas at a pressure of 1 x 106 Pa is compressed to a volume of
0.08m3 at constant temp. Find the pressure of the gas. (ANS 2 x 107 Pa )
2. A gas occupying a volume of 200m3 at a pressure 3 x 103 Pa is compressed
by a pressure of 1.2 x 104 Pa at constant temperature. Find the volume of
the gas. (ANS 50m3 )
3. A gas in a cylinder occupies a volume of 625ml at a pressure of 700mmHg.
If the temperature is held constant. What will be the pressure of the gas
when the volume is 250ml? (ANS 1750mmHg)
4. A glass tube contains enclosed air by a thread of mercury 250mm long.
When the tube is horizontal, the length of the air column is 200mm. taking
Pa =750mmHg and temperature is constant.
a) What is the pressure acting on the air column? (ANS 750 mmHg)

Trapped air
Mercury thread

Atmospheric pressure =750 mmHg

200 mm 250 mm

b) The open end of the tube is now raised until the tube is vertical. What is
the pressure on the air column now and what is the length of the air
column. (ANS 150 mm )
Pa =750 mmHg

Mercury
250mm

Trapped air L

c) The glass tube is then inverted such that the closed end is now on top.
Trapped air L

Mercury

250mm

Pa =750mmHg

i) What is the length of the air column? (ANS 300 mm)

ii) Why does the mercury not fall out?
5. A bubble of air of volume 2cm3 is released by a deep-sea diver at a depth
where the pressure is 4.0 atmospheres. Assuming its temperature remains
constant. What is its volume just before it reaches the surface where the
pressure is 1 atmosphere? (ANS 8 cm3 )

F O R M 3 N O T E S: GAS LAWS Pg2

CHARLES LAW.
“The volume of a fixed mass of a gas is directly proportional to the
absolute temperature provided the pressure remains constant”.i.e. as
temperature increases, the volume too increases.
V∝T
𝐕
= 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐭
𝐓
If volume changes from V1 to V2and temperature from T1 to T2 then,
𝐕𝟏 𝐕𝟐
=
𝐓𝟏 𝐓𝟐
While using this formula, absolute temp is applied ie(Kelvin scale)
EXP TO VERIFY CHARLES LAW
Open end
Ruler (volume scale)
Thermometer Stirrer

Conc. Sulphuric acid bead

Trapped air
Water bath

Heat
Procedure
~ Heat the water as you stir.
~ The water heats the trapped air and the air expands pushing theconc.H2SO4
bead the
~ Collect severalvalues of volume fromthe volume scale for various values
temperature read from the thermometer.
~ Plot the graph of volume against temperature.
~ The graph is a straight line that cuts the x-axis at -2730C (0K) when
extrapolated backwards. Thistemp is called absolute zero.

Volume

-2730 C 00 C 1000 C 2000 C 3000 C Temperature

(0K) (273K) (373K)
NOTE.
~ The stirrer is used to ensure uniform distribution of temp.
~ The pressure of the gas is constant atmpressure
~ Conc. H2SO4 index is used for:
(i) Trapping the air column.

F O R M 3 N O T E S: GAS LAWS Pg3

 (ii) As a pointer to the volume scale.
(iii) As a drying agent by absorbing vapour inside the trapped air.

Assumption made
~ The tube is of uniform cross-section & hence the volume of the air is
proportional to the length.
~ The temperature of the water bath is equal to the temperature of the air
column.

ABSOLUTE ZERO
This is the lowest temperature at which the volume of the gas
contract to zero ie -2730C (0K). At this temp the pressure of the gas is also
zero. However gases liquefy before they reach this low temperature and hence the
volume of any gas cannot go to zero.
EXAMPLES
1. The volume of a fixed mass of a gas at 570C is 750 cm3. What is its volume at-
90C if pressure remains unchanged? (ANS 640.9 cm3 )
2. A balloon is filled with air to a volume of 400ml at a temp of 270C. The balloon
is then dipped in water at 1000C, (ignore pressure due to water). Find the new
volume, if pressure remains constant. (ANS 497.3 cm3 )
3. The volume of a gas is 75cm at 30 C. At what temperature in 0C will the
3 0

volume be 125cm3. (ANS 2320C )

4. A balloon is filled with air to a volume of 200ml at a temperature of 285K.
Determine the volume when the temp rises to 353K at the same pressure.
(ANS 247.7ml)

PRESSURE LAW
The pressure of a fixed mass of a gas is directly proportion to its absolute
temperature (K) provided the volume remains constant.
Ie as temperature increases, the pressure also increase.
P∝T 𝐏𝟏 𝐏𝟐
𝐏
=
= 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐧t 𝐓𝟏 𝐓𝟐
𝐓 Where P1 is the pressure at T1and P2
Thus the pressure at T2.

Experiment to verify Pressure Law

Set the apparatus as below
Pressure

Thermometer
Stirrer

Hot Water Glass flask

Dry air

~ The water is heated which in turn heats the dry air enclosed in the flask.
~ The air expands and exerts pressure on the gauge.

F O R M 3 N O T E S: GAS LAWS Pg4

 ~ Collect several values of pressure from the pressure gauge for various
values of temperature taken from the thermometer.
~ Plot a graph pressure against temperature.
~ The graph is a straight line that cuts the x-axis at -2730C (0K)
(Absolute zero) if extrapolated.

Pressure

-2730 C 00 C 1000 C 2000 C 3000 C Temperature

(0K) (273K) (373K)

EXAMPLE
1. A fixed mass of a gas enclosed in a container has a pressure of
2x105Pa at a temperature of 270C. What will be the pressure of the gas if
the temperature is raised to 630C? (ANS 2.24 X 105 Pa)
2. At a temperature of -153 C the pressure of a gas is 1080mmHg. What will
0

be the temperature in 0C if the pressure increases to 3060mmHg at

constant volume? (ANS 670C )
3. On a certain day when the temperature is 37 C, the pressure in an open gas
0

jar is 640mmHg. The jar is then sealed and cooled to the temperature of
170C. Calculate the final pressure. (ANS 598.7 mmHg)
4. A thick walled steel cylinder used for storing compressed air is fitted with a
safety valve which opens at a pressure of 1.0 kPa. It contains air at 17°C
and 0.8 kPa. At what temp will the valve open? (ANS 89.50C)
5. A car tire is inflated to a pressure 2x10 Nm at a temperature of 70c. the
5 -2

tire heats up to 770c during the journey. Assuming that the tire does not
expand what will be the pressure. (ANS 2.5 X 105 N/m2)

UNIVERSAL GAS LAW (IDEAL GAS LAW)

This is a combination of any two of the three gas laws (ie Charles, Boyles and
Pressure laws).

𝐏𝟏 𝐕𝟏 𝐏𝟐 𝐕𝟐
=
𝐓𝟏 𝐓𝟐
The temperature of273K and the pressure 760mmHg (100,000Pa) are called
the standard temperature and pressure (S.T.P).
EXAMPLES
1. 240 cm3of a gas is collected at 200c and 770mmHg pressure. Find the
volume of the gas at S.T.P. (ANS 226.6 cm3)

F O R M 3 N O T E S: GAS LAWS Pg5

2. When 70cm3of air at 100kPa and a temperature of 70c is compressed to
45cm3 its temperature rises to 420c. What is the pressure of the
compressed air? (ANS 175 kPa)
3. Hydrogen gas of volume 2400cm at 54°C and pressure of 2.4N/m2 is
3

compressed until its volume is 300cm3 at a pressure is 6 N/m2. Determine

the temperature of the gas after this compression. (ANS -170.80C)
4. A balloon filled with Argon gas a volume of 200 cm at the earth’s surface
3

where the temperature is 200C, and the pressure 760mmHg. If it is

allowed to ascend to a height where the temperature is00C and the pressure
100mmHg, calculate the volume of the balloon. (ANS 1416.2 cm3)
5. A certain mass of H2 gas occupies a volume of 2.6m3 at a pressure of
1.5 x 105 Pa and temperature of 120C. Determine its volume at a
temperature of 00C and pressure of 1.0 x 105 Pa. (ANS 3.736 m3)

KINETIC THEORY OF GASES

The Kinetic theory of gases states that “Gases are made of molecules
which are in a continuous random motion”. These molecules have KE
which increases with an increase in temperature.

ASSUMPTION MADE IN OF KINETIC THEORY OF GASES:

i) There is no attraction between the gas molecules.
ii) The collision between molecules themselves with the surface of the
container is perfect elastic collisions.
iii) Gases are made up of tiny particles which are in rapid random
motion at high velocities in straight lines.
iv) The volume of the molecules is negligible compared to the volume
of the container.

KINETIC THEORY & CHARLES’ LAW

As the temperature increases, the KE of the molecules increases and they
move a higher speed. This makes them to bombard the walls of the
container with a greater [Link] pressure is constant the volume of
the container to increases.

KINETIC THEORY & PRESSURE LAW

As the temperature increases, the KE of the molecules increases and they
move at a higher speed. This makes them to bombard the walls of the
container with a greater force. Since volume is constant, the pressure of
the gas increases.

KINETIC THEORY & BOYLE’S LAW

As volume of a gas is decreased, the surface area of the container being
bombarded by the gas molecules reduces. This makes the rate of
collision per unit area to increase which increases pressure.

F O R M 3 N O T E S: GAS LAWS Pg6