Combined Gas Law

The combined gas law combines the three gas laws: Boyle's Law, Charles' Law, and Gay-
Lussac's Law. It states that the ratio of the product of pressure and volume and
the absolute temperature of a gas is equal to a constant. When Avogadro's law is added
to the combined gas law, the ideal gas law results. Unlike the named gas laws, the
combined gas law doesn't have an official discoverer. It is simply a combination of the
other gas laws that works when everything except temperature, pressure, and volume
are held constant.

There are a couple of common equations for writing the combined gas law. The classic
law relates Boyle's law and Charles' law to state:

PV/T = k

where P = pressure, V = volume, T = absolute temperature (Kelvin), and k = constant.

The constant k is a true constant if the number of moles of the gas doesn't
change. Otherwise, it varies.

Another common formula for the combined gas law relates "before and after"
conditions of a gas:

P1V1 / T1 = P2V2 / T2

Example
Find the volume of a gas at STP when 2.00 liters is collected at 745.0 mm Hg and 25.0
degrees Celsius.

To solve the problem, you first need to identify which formula to use. In this case, the
question asks about conditions at STP, so you know you're dealing with a "before and
after" problem. Next, you need to understand STP. If you haven't memorized this
already (and you probably should, since it appears a lot), STP refers to "standard
temperature and pressure," which is 273 Kelvin and 760.0 mm Hg.

Because the law works using absolute temperature, you need to convert 25.0 degrees
Celsius to the Kelvin scale. This gives you 298 Kelvin.

At this point, you can plug the values into the formula and solve for the unknown. A
common mistake some people make when they're new to this kind of problem is
confusing which numbers go together. It's good practice to identify the variables. In this
problem they are:

P1 = 745.0 mm Hg
V1 = 2.00 L
T1 = 298 K
P2 = 760.0 mm Hg
V2 = x (the unknown you're solving for)
T2 = 273 K

Next, take the formula and set it up to solve for the unknown "x," which in this
problem is V2:

P1V1 / T1 = P2V2 / T2

Cross-multiply to clear the fractions:

P1V1T2 = P2V2T1

Divide to isolate V2:

V2 = (P1V1T2) / (P2T1)

Plug in the numbers and solve for V2:

V2 = (745.0 mm Hg · 2.00 L · 273 K) / (760 mm Hg · 298 K)

V2 = 1.796 L

Report the result using the correct number of significant figures:

V2 = 1.80 L

Applications
The combined gas law has practical applications when dealing with gases at ordinary
temperatures and pressures. Like other gas laws based on ideal behavior, it becomes
less accurate at high temperatures and pressures. The law is used in thermodynamics
and fluid mechanics. For example, it can be used to calculate pressure, volume, or
temperature for the gas in clouds to forecast weather.

https://www.thoughtco.com/definition-of-combined-gas-law-604936
Sample Problems with solution

Here is one way to "derive" the Combined Gas Law:

Step 1: Write the problem-solving form of Boyle's Law:

P1V1 = P2V2

Step 2: Multiply by the problem-solving form of Charles Law:

(P1V1) (V1 / T1) = (P2V2) (V2 / T2)

P1V12 / T1 = P2V22 / T2

Step 3: Multiply by the problem-solving form of Gay-Lussac's Law:

(P1V12 / T1) (P1 / T1) = (P2V22 / T2) (P2 / T2)

P12V12 / T12 = P22V22 / T22

Step 4: Take the square root to get the combined gas law:

P1V1 / T1 = P2V2 / T2

The above is often how the combined gas law is written on the Internet. You may
also see it typeset like this:

P 1V 1 P 2V 2
––––– = –––––
T1 T2

In solving combined gas law problems, there is a lot of cross-multiplying involved. I

have found using the formulation just above to be helpful in visualizing what to
cross-multiply.

If all six gas laws are included (the three above as well as Avogadro, Diver, and "no-
name"), we would get the following:

P1V1 / n1T1 = P2V2 / n2T2

However, this more complete combined gas law is rarely discussed. Consequently,
we will (mostly) ignore it in future discussions and use (mostly) the law given in step
4 above. I put a four-variable problem as #11 in the Probs 1-10 file. (That 11 is not a
typo.)

A different way to "derive" the most common three-equation combined gas law is
discussed in example #5 below. In it, I use three laws: Boyle, Charles and Gay-Lussac.

Please follow this link, for getting the same three-equation combined gas law from
just Boyle's and Charles' Laws.

Example #1: 2.00 L of a gas is collected at 25.0 °C and 745.0 mmHg. What is the
volume at STP?

Solution:

1) You have to recognize that five (of six possible) values are given in the problem
and the sixth is an x. Also, remember to change the Celsius temperatures to Kelvin.

2) When problems like this were solved in the ChemTeam classroom (the ChemTeam
is now retired from the classroom), I would write a solution matrix, like this:

P1 = P2 =
V1 = V2 =
T1 = T2 =

and fill it in with data from the problem.

3) Here is the right-hand side filled in with the STP values:

P1 = P2 = 760.0 mmHg
V1 = V2 = x
T1 = T2 = 273 K

Comment: you can be pretty sure that the term "STP" (Standard Temperature and
Pressure) will appear in the wording of at least one test question in your classroom.
The ChemTeam recommends you memorize the various standard conditions. If your
teacher allows a "cheat sheet" to be used on the test, MAKE CERTAIN those values
are there.

4) Here's the solution matrix completely filled in:

P1 = 745.0 mmHg P2 = 760.0 mmHg

V1 = 2.00 L V2 = x
T1 = 298 K T2 = 273 K

5) Write the combined gas law equation:

P 1V 1 P 2V 2
––––– = –––––
T1 T2

6) Solve for V2 by first cross-multiplying:

P1V1T2 = P2V2T1

7) Then dividing both sides by P2T1:

P 1V 1T 2
V2 = –––––
P 2T 1

or:

V2 = (P1V1T2) / (P2T1)

8) Insert the five values in their proper places on the right-hand side of the above
equation and carry out the necessary operations:

(745.0 mmHg) (2.00 L) (273 K)

x = –––––––––––––––––––––––––
(760.0 mmHg) (298 K)

or:
x = [(745.0 mmHg) (2.00 L) (273 K)] / [(760.0 mmHg) (298 K)]

x = 1.796 L

to three significant figures, the answer is 1.80 L

Example #2: The pressure of 8.40 L of nitrogen gas in a flexible container is

decreased to one-half its original pressure, and its absolute temperature is increased
to double the original temperature. What is the new volume?

Solution:

This is a combined gas law problem since you have three variables changing:
pressure, temperature and volume. There will be six quantities.

1) Set up the six quantities:

P1 = P 1 P2 = P1/2
V1 = 8.40 L V2 = x
T1 = T1 T2 = 2T1

Notice how P2 is represented as being half of P1. Notice how T2 is represented as

being twice that of T1.

2) Write, then rearrange the Combined Gas Law:

P1V1 / T1 = P2V2 / T2

V2 = P1V1T2 / T1P2

3) Substitute into the rearranged gas law:

V2 = [(P1)(8.40 L)(2T1)] / [(T1) (P1/2) ]

V2 = 4(8.40 L) = 33.6 L

4) Another way to solve this is to assign placeholder values that fit the requirements
of the problem, as follows:
P1 = 2 P2 = 1
V1 = 8.40 L V2 = x
T1 = 1 T2 = 2

Note that the assigned values for pressure decrease by one-half and the assigned
values for temperature double, per the instructions in the problem.

5) Substitute into the rearranged gas law:

V2 = [(2)(8.40 L)(2)] / [(1) (1) ]

V2 = 4(8.40 L) = 33.6 L

The next example uses two gas laws in sequence. It involves using Dalton's Law of
Partial Pressures first, then use of the Combined Gas Law. The explanation will
assume you understand Dalton's Law. These two laws occuring together in a problem
is VERY COMMON.

Example #3: 1.85 L of a gas is collected over water at 98.0 kPa and 22.0 °C. What is
the volume of the dry gas at STP?

The key phrase is "over water." Another common phrase used in this type of
problem is "wet gas." This means the gas was collected by bubbling it into an
inverted bottle filled with water which is sitting in a water bath. The gas bubbles in
and is trapped. It displaces the water which flows out into the water bath. The terms
"over water" and "wet gas" are equivalent; they means the same thing, that being
that the gas is saturated with water vapor.

The problem is that the trapped gas now has water vapor mixed in with it. This is a
consequence of the technique and cannot be avoided. However, there is a
calculation technique (Dalton's Law) that allows use to remove the effect of the
water vapor and treat the gas as "dry." For this example, we write Dalton's Law like
this:

Pgas + PH2O = Ptotal

We need to know the vapor pressure of water at 22.0 °C and to do this we must look
it up in a reference source.

It is important to recognize the Ptotal is the 98.0 value. Ptotal is the combined pressure
of the dry gas AND the water vapor. We want the water vapor's pressure OUT.

We put the values into the Dalton's Law equation:

Pgas + 2.6447 kPa = 98.0 kPa

We solve the problem for Pgas and get 95.3553 kPa. Notice that it is not rounded off.
The only rounding off done is at the FINAL answer, which this is not.

Placing all the values into the solution matrix yields this:

P1 = 95.3553 kPa P2 = 101.325 kPa

V1 = 1.85 L V2 = x
T1 = 295 K T2 = 273 K

Solve for x in the usual manner of cross-multiplying and dividing:

V2 = (P1V1T2) / (P2T1)

x = [(95.3553 kPa) (1.85 L) (273 K)] / [(101.325 kPa) (295 K)

x = 1.61 L (to three sig figs)

Comment: a very common student mistake is to not realize that Dalton's Law must
be used first when a gas is collected over water. There is a very common
experiment in which some hydrogen gas is collected over water and the molar
volume is determined. Dalton's Law will be used in the calculations associated with
that lab.

Example #4: If the volume of an ideal gas is doubled while its temperature is
quadrupled, does the pressure (a) reman the same, (b) decrease by a factor of 2, (c)
decrease by a factor of 4, (d) increase by a factor of 2, or (e) increase by a factor of
4?
Solution:

1) Write the combined gas law:

P1V1 / T1 = P2V2 / T2

2) I will assign a value of 1 to V1 and allow it to double. I will assign a value of 1 to

T1 and allow its value to quadruple.

[(P1)(1)] / 1 = [(P2)(2)] / 4

P1 = P2 / 2

2P1 = P2

the answer is (d) increase by a factor of 2

By the way, any volume unit is fine for V1, but the temperature unit must be
understood to be Kelvin. In other words, do not select 1 °C, allow it to change to 4 °C
and then convert those values to K.

Example #5: The product of the pressure and volume of a gas, divided by the
temperature, is a constant. This is represented by the formula:

PV/T = k

(x) If the pressure and volume of a gas both increase, will the temperature increase
or decrease? Explain your answer.
(y) If the pressure is doubled and the volume is tripled, by what factor must the
temperature increase or decrease? Show your work.
(z) If the pressure of the gas is decreased by removing some of the gas, is it possible
to use the above formula to predict the change in volume and temperature? Why or
why not?

Solution:

1) I would like to explain how PV/T = k comes about:

(a) write Boyle's Law (use k1 for the constant):

PV = k1

(b) multiply by Charles' Law (use k2 for the constant):

PV2 / T = k1k2

(c) multiply by Gay-Lussac's Law (use k3 for the constant):

P2V2 / T2 = k1k2k3

(d) take the square root of both sides:

PV/T = k

where k is the square root of k1k2k3

2) Answering (x):

(a) we know that PV/T = k

(b) therefore for two different sets of conditions, we can write

P1V1 / T1 = k
P2V2 / T2 = k

(c) since k = k, we can write the combined gas law:

P1V1 / T1 = P2V2 / T2

(d) isolate T2:

T2 = T1 x (P2 / P1) x (V2 / V1)

(e) the rationale for answering that the temperature increases:

if P2 > P1 and V2 > V1, then T2 must be > T1

3) Answering (y):

(a) start here:

T2 = T1 x (P2 / P1) x (V2 / V1)
(b) given P2 = 2P1 and V2 = 3V1

T2 = T1 x (2P1 / P1) x (3V1 / V1)

T2 = T1 x 2 x 3

T2 = 6T1

4) Answering (z): The answer is no. Here's the rationale:

(a) start with the ideal gas law:

PV = nRT

(b) and rearrange

PV / T = nR

(c) we get the original equation

PV/T = k

ONLY if nR is a constant

we know that R is a constant

so for nR to be a constant, n must be a constant also.

removing some gas makes n change, so that PV/T = k won't work

Example #6: At constant temperature, if the gas amount in the sample is doubled
while the pressure is halved, what will happen to the volume of the gas sample?

Solution:

1) You can determine this by assigning values to use in a combined gas law problem.
I'll start from the less common form that has all 4 variables.

P1V1 / n1T1 = P2V2 / n2T2

2) Since the T is constant, let us drop it:

P1V1 / n1 = P2V2 / n2 <--- another seldom seen form of the combined gas law (one
with three variables)

3) The amount of the gas is doubled:

P1V1 / 1 = P2V2 / 2

4) The pressure is halved:

2V1 / 1 = 1V2 / 2

5) I will assign a volume of 1 to V1 and see what V2 will come to be:

(2 * 1) / 1 = (1 * V2) / 2

V2 = 4

The volume of the gas sample increases by a factor of 4.

5) Speaking of seldom seen combined gas law formulations, please go here for
another example. Scroll down to the Bonus Problem at the end of the file. I decided
to start from the Ideal Gas Law in my solution to that problem and I wind up with
this:

P1 / n1T1 = P2 / n2T2

Example #7: Using the Combined Gas Law, write each of the six symbolic values in
terms of the other five symbolic values.

Solution:

1) Here is the combined gas law most likely assumed by the question writer:

P 1V 1 P 2V 2
––––– = –––––
T1 T2

2) Cross multiply:

P1V1T2 = P2V2T1
3) To obtain P1 by itself, divide both sides by V1T2:

P 2V 2T 1
P1 = –––––
V 1T 2

4) To obtain V2 by itself, divide both sides of the cross-multiplied equation in step 2

by P2T1:

P 1V 1T 2
V2 = –––––
P 2T 1

5) The other four are left to the reader. Indeed, you may want to try your hand at the
four-variable form of the combined gas law. Here's a bit of the start:

P 1V 1 P 2V 2
––––– = –––––
n 1T 1 n 2T 2

cross multiply:

P1V1n2T2 = P2V2n1T1

You may proceed from there.

Example #8: 35.4 mL of hydrogen gas is collected over water at 24.0 °C and a total
pressure of 745.0 mmHg. What is the volume of the gas at STP?

Solution:

I decided to not use the word dry in front of gas in the last sentence. Often, a teacher
or question writer will assume that dry gas is the item desired in this type of
problem. That's because the water vapor is just in the way of doing more calculations
focused on the hydrogen. The assumption is made that the reader (you!) simply
understands this and that there is no need to spell out that dry gas is the desired
quantity.
I did decide to use the phrase ""a total pressure of." Sometimes, it is not made
explicit that the pressure given is a total pressure and is composed of two gases.
Once again, the question writer is assuming you know this by context and from
experience.

1) Use Dalton's Law to remove the pressure of the water vapor:

From the reference source, we determine that the vapor pressure of water at 24.0 °C
is 2.985 kPa.

Let us convert to mmHg:

(2.985 kPa) (760.0 mmHg / 101.325 kPa) = 22.39 mmHg

Now, use Dalton's Law:

Ptot = PH2 + PH2O

745.0 = x + 22.39

x = 722.61 mmHg

2) Set up the data for the problem:

P1 = 722.61 mmHg P2 = 760.0 mmHg

V1 = 35.4 mL V2 = x
T1 = 297.0 K T2 = 273.0 K

3) Use the combined gas law:

P 1V 1 P 2V 2
––––– = –––––
T1 T2
(722.61 mmHg) (35.4 mL) (760.0 mmHg) (x)
––––––––––––––––––––– = –––––––––––––––
297.0 K 273.0 K

x = 30.9 mL (to three sig figs)

Example #9: A tire has 25 air particles and a volume of 205 mL with a pressure of
0.950 atm. If 10 air particles are added the tire, the volume is 215 mL. What is the
new tire pressure?

Solution:

Before starting the solution, you have to recognize that the word 'moles' can be
substituted for the word 'particles.' In other words, there is a 25 to 10 ratio of
particles. If expressed in moles, the ratio is still 25 to 10.

1) Let's start with the four-variable form of the combined gas law:

P 1V 1 P 2V 2
––––– = –––––
n 1T 1 n 2T 2

2) Since temperature is never mentioned, we assume it is constant. So, T1 = T2, which

means T will drop out. This results in an unusual formulation of the combined gas
law.

P1V1 / n1 = P2V2 / n2

5) Substituting values:

25 and 35 (from 25 + 10) are our moles.

[(0.950 atm) (205 mL)] / 25 = [(x) (215 mL)] / 35

x = 1.27 atm

Example #10: At constant temp, if the amount of gas in the sample is doubled while
the pressure is halved, what will happen to the volume of the gas sample?

Solution:

1) The answer can determined by assigning values to use in a combined gas law
problem. I'll start with the less common form that has all 4 variables:
P1V1 / n1T1 = P2V2 / n2T2

2) Since the T is constant, let us drop it:

P1V1 / n1 = P2V2 / n2

3) The amount of the gas is doubled:

P1V1 / 1 = P2V2 / 2

4) The pressure is halved:

(2 * V1) / 1 = (1 * V2) / 2

5) I will assign a volume of 1 to V1 and see what V2 will come to be:

(2 * 1) / 1 = (1 * V2) / 2

V2 = 4

The volume of the gas sample increases by a factor of 4.

Bonus Example: When the pressure exerted on 1.00 L of an ideal gas is tripled, and
the absolute temperature is doubled, the volume becomes what value?

Solution #1:

1) Use the combined gas law:

P1V1 / T1 = P2V2 / T2

2) Assign values as follows:

P1 = 1.00 atm P2 = 3.00 atm

V1 = 1.00 L V2 = x
T1 = 1.00 K T2 = 2.00 K

3) Insert values into the equation and solve for x:

[(1.00 atm) (1.00 L)] / 1.00 K = [(3.00 atm ) (x)] / 2.00 K

x = 2/3 L = 0.667 L

Solution #2:

Tripling the pressure on a gas will divide its volume by 3 (Boyle's Law). Therefore,
after the increase in pressure, the volume will be 1/3 L.

However, doubling the absolute temperature of a gas will also double its volume
(Charles' Law). Multiply the previous answer by 2: 1/3 L x 2 = 2/3 L

Solution #3:

use PV = nRT

let Vinitial be the initial volume of your gas

so by rearranging the equation you get Vinitial = nRT/P

the question says that later the pressure is tripled and the temperature is doubled,
so now you have

Vnew = nR times (2T)/(3P)

Vnew = (2/3) times (nRT/P)

by comparing Vnew with Vinitial, you can see that

Vnew = 2/3 times Vinitial

you know Vinitial is 1L, so your Vnew has to be 2/3 L

https://www.chemteam.info/GasLaw/Gas-Combined.html