Where Knowledge Rules

Sciences:

Physical Science

Get a Widget for this title

The ideal gas law

This law expresses the link between the 3 fundamental quantities that define the state of a gas: PRESSURE (P), TEMPERATURE (T) and VOLUME (V).
The law is expressed by the formula

PV = nRT (1)

where "n" are the moles of the gas we are considering and "R" is the UNIVERSAL CONSTANT OF GASES whose value is 0.08205, if P is expressed in Atm, T in Kelvin degrees (C + 273.16) and V in litres.

This formula allows us to calculate the 3rd quantity when we know the first two and this is simple, but we can also study the behaviour of a gas when one of them is kept constant.
This is true when the transformation on a date mass of gas is REVERSIBLE, respecting the following conditions:
- The transformation is extremely slow, to allow the gas to be always in equilibrium conditions
- There's no friction in the container of the gas when we vary P in function of V
- There's no heat exchange with the exterior when T remains constant.

At this point, we can have three possible cases:

A) T = CONSTANT
For a date T, we can study the behaviour of P in function of V, varying the volume of the gas into a piston container.
This behaviour follows an hyperbolic curve so that, as V increases, P decreases and, on the contrary, when we reduce the inner V, the gas is compressed and its P increases.
This case is described by the BOYLE equation:

PV = K (2) (where K is a constant including T) or, also

P1*V1 = P2*V2 (3)

B) V = CONSTANT
If we keep constant the V of a certain amount of gas in a rigid container, we can study P in function of T, explaining the well-known fact that a gas, heated in a constant V (always in reversible conditions) increases its P according to the CHARLES LAW:

P/T = K (4) or, also

P1/T1 = P2/T2 (5)

that express a direct proportionality between P and T so that P varies LINEARLY in function of T.

C) P = CONSTANT
In this case, the volume of the container is left free to increase (considering considering negligible the friction and the mass of the piston) when the T of the gas increases.
This is another direct proportionality, this time, between T and V and it's expressed by the GAY-LUSSAC LAW:

T/V = K (6) or, also

T1*V1 = T2*V2 (7)

The perfect gas law is valid for the limit case of an IDEAL GAS that must respect the following conditions:
1) The total volume of gas particles (atoms or molecules) is negligible respect to that of their container so that we can compress the gas until nearly V = 0.

2) The interactions among gas particles are absent so that the chemical nature of the gas is negligible.

3) The


Below are the top articles rated and ranked by Helium members on:

The ideal gas law

  • 1 of 5

    by Reynold Conger

    The volume of a gas changes with temperature, pressure and the number of molecules in the container. Early workers used

    read more

  • 2 of 5

    by Tenebris

    The ideal gas law predicts the state of a gas at a given pressure and temperature. It is expressed mathematically as PV

    read more

  • 3 of 5

    by Aldo Bonincontro

    This law expresses the link between the 3 fundamental quantities that define the state of a gas: PRESSURE (P), TEMPERATURE

    read more

  • 4 of 5

    by Arjun Wadhwa

    The ideal gas law is on of the easier concepts of chemistry to understand and which can be applied directly to student's

    read more

  • 5 of 5

    by Lady Write

    The equation of ideal (perfect) gas at low pressure was established by combining a series of empirical laws like Boyle's

    read more

Add your voice

Know something about The ideal gas law?
We want to hear your view. Write_penWrite now!

Helium Debate

Cast your vote!

Should people be allowed to live on Mars?

Click for your side.

87020

Featured Partner

The Overbrook Foundation

The Overbrook Foundation has partnered with Helium, giving you the chance to write for a cause. Browse Overbrook...more

What is Helium? | Buy Web Content | Contact Us | Privacy | User agreement | DMCA | User Tools | Help | Community | Helium’s Official Blog | Link to Helium

Helium, Inc.
200 Brickstone Square Andover, MA 01810 USA