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CHAPTER 2
THE GASEOUS STATE AND GAS LAWS
2.1 Measurable Quantities of Gases
A gaseous substance consists of very small particles as other states of matter-solids and
liquids. The particles of the gas are widely spaced and free to move in any direction. It
spreads itself uniformly throughout any container.
Before dealing with the theory of gases, we should consider the properties (mass,
volume, pressure and temperature) that can be measured.

Volume of the Gas

Suppose that a sample of gas is enclosed in a container of 1 dm 3. The particles of gas are
freely moving within the whole space of container. Thus, the volume of enclosed gas is 1
dm3. If the gas is transferred into another container of 2 dm 3, the available space occupied
by the gas will be 2 dm3.

Pressure of the Gas

During the motion, the particles of a gas collide with each other and also with the walls
of the container. Hitting the walls of the container by the particles is actually the force on
it. The force acting on the unit area is what we know as; the gas pressure.
Pressure of gas =
Temperature of the Gas
At any low temperature, the particles of a gas are moving with a slow speed. If the
temperature is increased, they move faster resulting in the more frequent collisions on the
container. Variation of temperatures can affect the pressure and volume of the gas.

2.2 Gas Laws

Pressure- Volume Behaviour
1 atm (1 Kg cm-2 2 atm (2 Kg cm-2

- 2 dm3 - 2 dm3
- 1 dm3 - 1 dm3

Fig. 2.1 Pressure-volume behaviour of a gas at constant temperature

Figure 2.1 shows that when a pressure of 1 atmosphere is applied on a volume of gas, the
volume of the gas supports against this external pressure. The pressure of the gas is 1
atmosphere which corresponds to 2 dm 3. When a pressure of 2 atmospheres is applied,
the volume of the gas reduces to half of its original volume.
The decrease of gas volume accompanies the increase of gas pressure.
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Boyle’s Law
Boyle’s law shows the relation of gas volume (V) and pressure (P). It can be expressed in
mathematical form as:
V (mass and temperature are kept constant)

V = constant
PV = constant
P1V1 = P2V2
Thus, Boyle’s law can be stated as follows:
When the temperature of a given mass of gas is kept constant, the volume of the gas is
inversely proportional to its pressure.

Example: A volume of a certain mass of gas occupies 952 cm 3 at 561 mmHg. What
is the volume under 760 mmHg at the same temperature?

Initial state Final state

P1 = 561 mmHg. P2 =760 mmHg.
V1 = 952cm3 V2 = ?

According to Boyle’s law:

P1 V1 = P2 V2

V2 =

V2 =
V2 = 702.8 cm3

Volume-Temperature Behaviour
When a given mass of gas is heated at a constant external pressure, the gas particles begin
to move with greater speed. Therefore, they hit the walls with greater impact making the
gas to expand to a new volume. Hence when a given mass of gas is heated at constant
pressure the volume will expand with respect to the increase in temperature. This means
that the volume of a given mass of gas varies with temperature.
Similarly the volume of the gas decreases regularly with regular decrease of
temperature. If the constant contraction rate is continued, the volume of the gas will
become zero at – 273°C. This temperature is taken as the zero point of a new scale of
temperature, (Kelvin temperature scale) and also known as absolute zero temperature.
Absolute zero temperature= -273° C or 0 K.
Relation of Kelvin temperature and Celsius temperature
T K = t C + 273
Charles’ Law
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Charles’ Law shows the relation of volume (V) and Kelvin temperature (T). It
can be stated in mathematical form as:
V T (mass and pressure are kept constant)
V = constant T
= constant

This relation may also be expressed as;

When the pressure of a given mass of gas is kept constant, the volume of the
gas is directly proportional to its temperature on the Kelvin scale.
Example: A certain mass of gas occupies 617 cm 3 at 9° C. What is the volume at
0° C under the same pressure?
Initial state Final state
V1 = 617cm3 V2 = ?
T1 = 9°C+273 T2 = 0°C + 273
= 282 K = 273K
According to Charles’ Law:

V2 =

V2 =
V2 = 597.3 cm3

Relationship between Temperature and Pressure of Gases

As mentioned in the above section, the increase in the temperature makes the particles to
move with greater speed and greater force or pressure on the walls of the container.
Therefore, when a volume of given mass of gas is heated, the pressure of the gas
increases with the increase of temperature.
A mathematical expression of this statement can be written as:
P T (mass and volume are kept constant)
P = constant T
= constant

This relation can also be expressed as:

When a volume of a given mass of gas is kept constant, the pressure of the gas is
directly proportional to its temperature on the Kelvin scale.
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Example: The pressure of a gas at 27° C is 760 mmHg. What is the pressure of the
gas at 87° C at constant volume?
Initial state Final state
P1 = 760cm3 P2 = ?
T1 = 27°C+273 T2 = 87°C + 273
= 300 K = 360K

P2 = =

= 912. mmHg
Combination of Boyle’s Law and Charles’ Law
Boyle’s law, V (mass and temperature are kept constant).
Charles’ law, V T (mass and pressure are kept constant).
By the combination of these laws
V (mass is constant)

V = constant

= constant

This equation is known as combined gas law equation.

Standard Temperature and Pressure, STP
STP means standard temperature and pressure.
Standard temperature = 0 C or 273 K
Standard pressure = 760 mmHg or 1 atmosphere (atm)

Example: At 27 C and 750 mmHg a gas occupies 380 cm3. What is the volume of
the gas at STP?
Initial state Final state
P1 = 750 mmHg P2 = 760 mmHg
T1 = 27 C + 273 T2 = 0 C + 273
= 300 K = 273 K
3
V1 = 380 cm V2 = ?
According to the combined gas law equation,

=
 24

V2 =

V2 =
V2 = 341.3 cm3
Molar Volume of Gases
One mole of every gas occupies 22.4 dm3 at STP.
The amount of the gas expressed as relative molecular mass in gram is equivalent
to one mole and occupies 22.4 dm3 at STP.
Example:What is the mass of hydrogen gas enclosed in 5.6 dm3 at STP? (H=l)
22.4 dm3 of the gas at STP = 1 mol

5.6 dm3 ………………=

= 0.25 mol
1 mol of hydrogen = 2g
0.25 mol = 2x 0.25 g = 0.5g

Gay-Lussac’s Law of Combining Volumes of Gases

At the same temperature and pressure, the volume of reacting gases and gaseous products
are in simple ratios of small whole numbers.
Hydrogen + nitrogen ammonia
3 volumes + 1 volume 2 volumes
Avogadro’s Theory
At the same temperature and pressure, equal volumes of all gases contain the same
number of molecules.
V n (at the same temperature and pressure)
n = number of molecules
Relative Density of Gas
Relative density of a gas can be defined as the ratio of the mass of a volume of gas at a
certain temperature and pressure to the mass of equal volume of hydrogen at the same
temperature and pressure.
Relative density of a gas =
Both gases are measured at the same temperature and pressure.
=

=
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= relative molecular mass of the gas

Relative density of a gas is equivalent to half of the relative molecular mass of the gas.

Example: What is the relative density of CO2 ? (C = 12, 0 = 16)

Relative molecular mass of CO2 = 12+2x16

= 44
Relative density of CO2 = x relative molecular mass of CO2

= x 44
= 22
Pressure Behaviour in a Gas Mixture
It is obvious that the total pressure of a gas mixture is related to the partial pressure of
each gas if the individual gas is inert to one another.
When a mixture of oxygen and nitrogen gas is enclosed in a container with the
capacity of 1 dm3, the pressure shown in the pressure gauge is the total pressure of the
gas mixture.
If each gas is separately stored in the container with the same size as the volume
of the gas mixture (i.e. in 1 dm3), the pressure exerted by each gas at the same
temperature is the partial pressure of each gas.
Dalton’s Law of Partial Pressures
The phenomenon of gas pressure in a gas mixture can be summarized as follows:
Ptotal = P1 + P 2 + P 3 + …
Ptotal = total pressure of gas mixture
P1,P2,P3 = partial pressures of different gases
Hence, when the temperature is kept constant, the total pressure of a gas mixture is
the sum of the partial pressures of different gases.
Example: The pressure of hydrogen collected over water at 27° C is 776.7 mmHg.
The vapour pressure of water at 27° C is 26.7 mmHg. What is the pressure
of dry hydrogen?
Ptotal = +
= Ptotal -
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= 776.7 mmHg – 26.7 mmHg

= 750mmHg
Diffusion of Gases
Particles of gases are always in constant and rapid motion. Therefore when two gases are
in contact with each other one gas travels through another gas. The process by which the
molecules of one gas spreads through the spaces created between the molecules of
another gas is known as diffusion. In general, the lighter gas diffuses faster than the
heavier one.
Graham’s Law of Gaseous Diffusion
r (at the same temperature and pressure)
r = constant
r = constant
r1 = r2 or r1 = r2

or =
r = rate of diffusion of gas (cm3 s-1)
d = density of gas (g dm-3)
M = molar mass (gmol-1)
This relation can be expressed as:
At the same temperature and pressure, the rate of diffusion of a gas is inversely
proportional to the square root of the density of the gas.
Example: What is the relative molecular mass of the gas that diffuses 4 times as fast
an oxygen? What is the molar mass of that gas? (0 = 16)

4 =

16 =

Mx =
Mx = 2
Molar mass = 2g mol-1
2. 3 Chemical Calculations Involving Gas Laws and Theories
Expressing measurable quantities of gases in various terms (i.e., dm 3, mole, m mol, g and
amu)
1. You are provided with 11.2 dm 3 of hydrogen gas at STP. Find the amount of
hydrogen in (i) moles (ii) molecules (iii)gram (iv) amu.(H= 1)
(i) 22.4 dm3 at STP = 1 mol of H2

11.2 dm3 =
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= 0.5 mol of H2
(ii) 1 mol of H2 = 6.02 x 1023 molecules
0.5 mol = 6.02 x 1023 molecules mol-1 x 0.5 mol
= 3.01 x 1023 molecules
(iii) 1 mol of H2 weighs = 2 g
0.5 mol = 2 g mol-1 x 0.5 mol
= 1g
(iv) 1 molecule of H2 weighs = 2 amu
3.01 x l023 molecules = 2 amu molecule-1 x 3.01 x l023 molecules
= 6.02x1023 amu
2. 8 g of oxygen gas is given. Calculate the following:
(i) moles (ii) molecules (iii) volume in dm3 at STP (iv) density of oxygen gas at
STP (v) relative density of oxygen.

(i) 32 g of oxygen = 1 mol

8g =
= 0.25 mol
(ii) molecules = 0.25 mol x 6.02x1023 molecules mol-1
= 1.505 x1023 molecules
(iii) volume at STP = 0.25 mol x 22.4 dm3 mol-1
= 5.6 dm3
(iv) density at STP =

=
= 1.428 g dm-3
(v) relative density of oxygen = relative molecular mass of the gas

= 32
= 16

Change of Volumes with Temperatures and Pressures

3. The volume of a certain mass of gas collected over water is 227 cm 3 at 12°C and
762 mmHg. Vapour pressure of water at 12°C is 10.5 mmHg. What would be the
volume of dry gas at 15°C and 757 mmHg?
P total = P dry gas +
P dry gas = P total -
= 762 mmHg - 10.5 mmHg
= 751.5 mmHg
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Initial state Final state

P1 = 751.5 mmHg P2 = 757 mmHg
T1 = 12 C + 273 T2 = 15 C + 273
= 285 K = 288 K
V1 = 227 cm3 V2 = ?
According to the combined gas law equation,

V2 =

V2 =
V2 = 227.7 cm3
Application of Gas Law to Problems Involving Chemical Reactions

(e) l0 g of calcium carbonate is treated with dilute hydrochloric acid. The liberated
gas measured at 27° C and 750 mmHg is 1.85 dm 3. Find the percentage purity of
calcium carbonate. (C= 12, 0=16, H= 1, Ca= 40)
Change the volume to STP.

Initial state Final state

P1 = 750 mmHg P2 = 760 mmHg
T1 = 27 C + 273 T2 = 0 C + 273
= 300 K = 273 K
V1 = 1.85 cm3 V2 =?

V2 =

V2 =
V2 = 1.661 dm3 at STP

CaCO3(s) + 2HC1(aq) CaCl2(aq) + H2O(l) + CO2 (g)

1 mol 1mol
(40+12+48) (12+32)
100 g 44 g or
22.4 dm3 at STP
At STP 22.4 dm3 of CO2 is obtained from 100 g of CaCO3
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1.661dm3 ... ... ... ... = 100 g

= 7.415 g
Percentage purity of CaCO3 =
= 74.15%
Problems of Gaseous Diffusion
(e) What is the relative rate of diffusion of hydrogen and oxygen? (H=l, 0=16)

= 4

Hydrogen diffuses 4 times faster than oxygen.

6. Helium gas diffuses 4 times as fast as an unknown gas. What is the relative
molecular mass of the gas ? (He = 4)

4 =

16 =

Mx = 64

Problems of Dalton’s Law of Partial Pressures

7. A gas occupies 500 cm3 at 17°C and 785 mmHg when it is collected over water.
The vapour pressure of water at this temperature is 15 mmHg. What is the
pressure of the dry gas at 17° C?
P total = P dry gas +
P dry gas
= P total —
= 785 mmHg — 15 mmHg
= 770 mmHg
8. Total pressure of oxygen and acetylene gas storage tank is 7520 mmHg. The partial
pressure of oxygen is 3400 mmHg. What is the pressure of acetylene?
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P total = +
= P total —
= 7520 mmHg — 3400 mmHg
= 4120 mmHg

SUMMARY
This chapter is concerned with the gaseous states of matter and the laws
governing their behaviour. The fundamental properties of gases include mass, volume,
pressure, and temperature. The gas laws include ; Boyle’s law, Charles’ law ,
Combination of Boyle’s law and Charles’ law, Gay-Lussac‘s law of combining volumes
of gases, Avogadro’s theory, Graham’s law of gaseous diffusion, and Dalton’s law of
partial pressures. Standard temperature and pressure (STP) is defined as Oo C or 273 K of
temperature and 760 mm Hg or 1 atmosphere ( 1 atm) of pressure. One mole of every gas
occupies 22.4 dm3 at STP and is regarded as molar volume . Relative density of a gas is
equivalent to half of the relative molecular mass of the gas.

Questions and Problems

1. Fill in the blanks with suitable word, phrase of numerical figure,
(i) STP means .......... The standard conditions chosen are.......... and.........
(ii) 100 Cis equivalent to ..........K.
(iii) One mole of any gas occupies ........ at.......... .
(iv) One gram of hydrogen gas occupies .......... at STP. (H= 1)
(v) The combined gas equation is .......... .
2. Choose the correct term or terms given in the brackets.
(i) Boyle’s law can be expressed as(V= 1/P,PV= constant, P/V= constant)
(ii) Graham’s Law of gaseous diffusion can be symbolized as .
(r = constant, r1 = r2 , r = 1/ )
(iii) Dalton’s Law of partial pressures can be used to the gas mixture of (Cl2 and
H2, He and Ne, NH3 and HC1)
(iv) One molecule of hydrogen gas weighs (l g, 2 g, 2 amu)
(v) 100 cm3 of CO2 diffuses through a porous pot in 50 s. The same volume of
propane gas C3H8 would take (10s, 50s, 60s) to diffuse through the same pot.
(C=12, H=l, 0=16)
3. Which Law represents each of the following statements?
(i) A volume of gas expands when it is heated.
(ii) When the volume of a gas is compressed at the same temperature, the
pressure of the gas will increase.
(iii) The same volume of different gases at constant temperature and pressure
contains the same number of molecules.
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(iv) A lighter gas diffuses faster than the heavier one.

4. State TRUE or FALSE for the following statements.
(i) Equal amount of moles of the gases occupies the same volume at the same
temperature and pressure.
(ii) The pressure of the gas in a closed container will increase when it is heated.
(iii) 18 g of liquid water occupies 22.4 dm3 at STP. ( H = 1, 0=16)
(iv) The relative density of the gas is directly proportional to its relative
molecular mass.
(v) One molecule of hydrogen weigh 2g. (H=1)
5. Give a short answer for each of the following questions.
(i) Which one diffuses fester in each of the following pair under comparable
condition? (a) He and Ne (b) 235UF6 and 238UP6 (c) N2 and CO
(ii) What will be the volume of hydrogen chloride gas when 100 cm3 of
hydrogen and 50 cm3 of chlorine are mixed? (All gases are measured at the
same condition)
(iii) How many molecules are there in 5.6 dm3 of hydrogen at STP?
(vi) 7g of nitrogen gas occupies 5.6 dm3 at STP. What is the relative molecular
mass of the nitrogen?
(v) What is the mass of CO2 enclosed in 5.6 dm3 at STP?
6. A gas with the relative density of 22 is given.
(i) Find the relative molecular mass.
(ii) What is the mass of one mole of the gas in g?
(iii) What volume at STP would the gas occupy by 22 g of that gas?
7. A certain mass of gas occupies 942 cm 3 at 22° C. At what temperature in °C will
the gas occupy 311 cm3 the same pressure?
8. 0.21 g of a gas occupies a volume of 186cm 3 measured over water at 766 mmHg
and 23 C. Vapour pressure of water at 23 C is 21.1 mmHg. What is the
approximate molecular mass of the gas?
9. If it take 1 minute for 50cm3 of oxygen to diffuse through a pinhole, how long
will it take for the same volume of hydrogen to diffuse through the same hole?
10. Match each of the item given in List A with the appropriate correct item shown in
List B
List A List B
(a) Gas pressure (i) Avogadro’s theory
(b) — 273 C (ii) 6.02 x 1023 particles
(c) One mole of substance (iii) 22.4 dm3 at STP
(d) One mole of gas (iv) 0 K
(e) V n (at P, T = constant) (v) force per unit area.
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11. Which law represents relationship between temperature and volume.

12. What do you think, a volume of given mass of gas when heated, pressure of the
gas increases with the increase of temperature ?
13. How many grams are there in
(i) 5 moles of carbon dioxide , CO2 ? ( C = 12, O = 16 )
(ii) 0.1 mole of calcium carbonate CaCO3 ? ( Ca = 40, C = 12, O = 16 )
(iii) 0.25 mole of oxygen atoms ? ( O = 16 )
14. Match each of the items in list A with suitable mathematical expression given in
list B.
List A List B
(a) Molar volume of gases at STP. (i) 22.4 dm3 at STP
(b) Relative density of a gas. (ii) O K
(c) Molar volume of a gas (iii) 22.4 dm3
(d) Absolute zero temperature (iv) ½ RMM
(e) One mole of substance (v) 6.02 x 1023

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