Gas Laws

Boyle’s Law
• Boyle’s law states that for a given
mass of gas at constant temperature,
the volume of the gas varies inversely
with pressure.

P1 × V1 = P2 × V2
 Interpret Graphs

As the volume decreases from 1.0 L to 0.5 L, the

pressure increases from 100 kPa to 200 kPa.
Using Boyle’s Law
A balloon contains 30.0 L of
helium gas at 103 kPa. What is
the volume of the helium when
the balloon rises to an altitude
where the pressure is only
25.0 kPa? (Assume that the
temperature remains constant.)
1 Analyze List the knowns and the
unknown.
Use Boyle’s law (P1 × V1 = P2 × V2) to
calculate the unknown volume (V2).

KNOWNS UNKNOWN
P1 = 103 kPa V2 = ? L
V1 = 30.0 L
P2 = 25.0 kPa
2 Calculate Solve for the unknown.

Start with Boyle’s law.

P1 × V1 = P2 ×V2
2 Calculate Solve for the unknown.
Rearrange the equation to isolate V2.

P1 × V1 = P2 ×V2
Isolate V2 by dividing both
sides by P2:
P1 × V1 = P2 × V2
P2 P2

V1 × P1
V2 =
P2
2 Calculate Solve for the unknown.

Substitute the known values for P1, V1,

and P2 into the equation and solve.

30.0 L × 103 kPa

V2 =
25.0 kPa

V2 = 1.24 × 102 L
A sample of neon gas occupies a
volume of 677 mL at 134 kPa. What is
the pressure of the sample if the
volume is decreased to 642 mL?

Known: Unknown:
V1 = 677 mL V2 = ?
P1 = 134 kPa
P2 = 642 mL
A sample of neon gas occupies a
volume of 677 mL at 134 kPa. What is
the pressure of the sample if the
volume is decreased to 642 mL?
P1 × V1 = P2 × V2
V1 × P1
P2 =
V2
677 mL × 134 kPa
P2 =
642 mL

P2 = 141 kPa
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 Charles’s Law
Charles’s law states that the volume of
a fixed mass of gas is directly
proportional to its Kelvin temperature if
the pressure is kept constant.

V1 V2
=
T1 T2
 Interpret Graphs

The graph shows how the volume changes

as the temperature of the gas changes.
 CHEMISTRY & YOU

A hot air balloon contains a propane burner

onboard to heat the air inside the balloon.
What happens to the volume of the balloon
as the air is heated?

According to Charles’s law,

as the temperature of the air
increases, the volume of the
balloon also increases.
Using Charles’s Law
A balloon inflated in a room at 24oC has a
volume of 4.00 L. The balloon is then heated
to a temperature of 58oC. What is the new
volume if the pressure remains constant?
1 Analyze List the knowns and the
unknown.
Use Charles’s law (V1/T1 = V2/T2) to
calculate the unknown volume (V2).

KNOWNS UNKNOWN
V1 = 4.00 L V2 = ? L
T1 = 24oC
T2 = 58oC
2 Calculate Solve for the unknown.

Because you will use a gas law, start by

expressing the temperatures in kelvins.

T1 = 24oC + 273 = 297 K

T2 = 58oC + 273 = 331 K
2 Calculate Solve for the unknown.

Write the equation for Charles’s law.

V1 V2
=
T1 T2
2 Calculate Solve for the unknown.
Rearrange the equation to isolate V2.

V1 V2
=
T1 T2
Isolate V2 by multiplying both
sides by T2:
V1 V2
T2 × = × T2
T1 T2

V1 × T2
V2 =
T1
2 Calculate Solve for the unknown.

Substitute the known values for T1, V1,

and T2 into the equation and solve.

4.00 L × 331 K
V2 =
297 K

V2 = 4.46 L
What is the temperature of a 2.3 L balloon
if it shrinks to a volume of 0.632 L when it
is dipped into liquid nitrogen at a
temperature of 77 K?

KNOWN: UNKNOWN:
V1 = 2.3 L T1= ?
V2 = 0.632 L
T2 = 77 K
What is the temperature of a 2.3 L balloon
if it shrinks to a volume of 0.632 L when it
is dipped into liquid nitrogen at a
temperature of 77 K?

V1 × T2
T1 =
V2
2.3 L × 77 K
T1 =
0.632 L
T1 = 276 K
 Gay-Lussac’s Law
Gay-Lussac’s law states that the pressure
of a gas is directly proportional to the Kelvin
temperature if the volume remains
constant.

P1 P2
=
T1 T2
 Gay-Lussac’s Law
Gay-Lussac’s law can be applied to
reduce the time it takes to cook food.
• In a pressure cooker, food cooks
faster than in an ordinary pot
because trapped steam becomes
hotter than it would under normal
atmospheric pressure.
• But the pressure rises, which
increases the risk of an explosion.
• A pressure cooker has a valve that
allows some vapor to escape
when the pressure exceeds the set
value.
Using Gay-Lussac’s Law
Aerosol cans carry labels warning not to
incinerate (burn) the cans or store them
above a certain temperature. This
problem will show why it is dangerous to
dispose of aerosol cans in a fire. The
gas in a used aerosol can is at a
pressure of 103 kPa at 25oC. If the can
is thrown onto a fire, what will the
pressure be when the temperature
reaches 928oC?
1 Analyze List the knowns and the
unknown.
P1 P2
=
Use Gay Lussac’s law
T1 T2 to
calculate the unknown pressure (P2).

KNOWNS UNKNOWN
P1 = 103 kPa P2 = ? kPa
T1 = 25oC
T2 = 928oC
2 Calculate Solve for the unknown.
Remember, because this problem
involves temperatures and a gas law,
the temperatures must be expressed in
kelvins.

T1 = 25oC + 273 = 298 K

T2 = 928oC + 273 = 1201 K
2 Calculate Solve for the unknown.

Write the equation for Gay Lussac’s law.

P1 P2
=
T1 T2
2 Calculate Solve for the unknown.
Rearrange the equation to isolate P2.
P1 P2
=
T1 T2
Isolate P2 by multiplying both sides by
T2:
T2 × P1 =
P2 × T2
T1 T
2

P1 × T2
P2 =
T1
2 Calculate Solve for the unknown.

Substitute the known values for P1, T2,

and T1 into the equation and solve.

103 kPa × 1201 K

P2 =
298 K
P2 = 415 kPa
P2 = 4.15 × 102 kPa
A pressure cooker containing kale and
some water starts at 298 K and 101 kPa.
The cooker is heated, and the pressure
increases to 136 kPa. What is the final
temperature inside the cooker?

Known: Unknown:
T1 = 298 K T2 = ?
P1 = 101kPa
P2 = 136 kPa
A pressure cooker containing kale and
some water starts at 298 K and 101 kPa.
The cooker is heated, and the pressure
increases to 136 kPa. What is the final
temperature inside the cooker?

P2 × T1
T2 =
P
136
1 kPa × 298 K
T2 =
101 kPa
T2 = 400 K
 The Combined Gas Law

The Combined Gas Law

How are the pressure, volume,
and temperature of a gas related?
 The Combined Gas Law

There is a single expression, called the

combined gas law, that combines
Boyle’s law, Charles’s law, and Gay-
Lussac’s law.

P1 × V1 P2 ×
=
T1 VT22

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 The Combined Gas Law

When only the amount of gas is

constant, the combined gas law
describes the relationship among
pressure, volume, and temperature.
 The Combined Gas Law

You can derive the other laws from the

combined gas law by holding one
variable constant.
• Suppose you hold the temperature constant
(T1 = T2).
• Rearrange the combined gas law so that
the two temperature terms on the same
side of the equation.
P 2 × V2 × T 1
P1 × V1 =
T2
 The Combined Gas Law

You can derive the other laws from the

combined gas law by holding one
variable constant.
• Because (T1 = T2), the ratio of T1 to T2 is
equal to one.
• Multiplying by 1 does not change a value in
an equation.

P 2 × V2 × T 1
P1 × V1 =
T2
 The Combined Gas Law

You can derive the other laws from the

combined gas law by holding one
variable constant.
• So when temperature is constant, you can
delete the temperature ratio from the
rearranged combined gas law.
• What you are left with is the equation for
Boyle’s law.

P1 × V1 = P2 × V2

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 The Combined Gas Law

You can derive the other laws from the

combined gas law by holding one
variable constant.
• A similar process yields Charles’s law when
pressure remains constant.
• Another similar process yields Gay-
Lussac’s law when volume remains
constant.
Using the Combined Gas Law
The volume of a gas-filled
balloon is 30.0 L at 313 K
and 153 kPa pressure.
What would the volume be
at standard temperature
and pressure (STP)?
1 Analyze List the knowns and the
unknown.
Use the combined gas law (P1V1/T1 = P2V2/T2)
to calculate the unknown volume (V2).
KNOWNS UNKNOWN
V1 = 30.0 L V2 = ? L
T1 = 313 K
P1 = 153 kPa
T2 = 273 K (standard temperature)
P2 = 101.3 kPa (standard pressure)
Copyright © Pearson Education, Inc., or its affiliates. All Rights Reserved.
2 Calculate Solve for the unknown.

State the combined gas law.

P1 × P2 ×
=
T1
V T22
V

Copyright © Pearson Education, Inc., or its affiliates. All Rights Reserved.

2 Calculate Solve for the unknown.
Rearrange the equation to isolate V2.
P1 × V1 P2 × V2
=
T1 T2
Isolate P2 by multiplying both sides
by T2:
T2 P × V1 P2 × V2 T2
× 1 = ×
P2 T1 T2 P2

V1 × P1 × T2
V2 =
P2 × T1
2 Calculate Solve for the unknown.

Substitute the known quantities into the

equation and solve.

30.0 L × 153 kPa × 273 K

V2 =
101.3 kPa × 313 K
V2 = 39.5 L
3 Evaluate Does the result make sense?

• A decrease in temperature and a

decrease in pressure have opposite
effects on the volume.
• To evaluate the increase in volume,
multiply V1 (30.0 L) by the ratio of P1
to P2 (1.51) and the ratio of T1 to T2
(0.872).
• The result is 39.5 L.
Which of the following equations could be
used to correctly calculate the final
temperature of a gas?
V1 × P1 × V2
A. T2 = P2 × T1
V2 × P2 × T1
B. T2 =
V1 × P1
C. T = V2 × P1 × T1
2
V1 × P2
D. V1 × P1 × T1
T2 =
V2 × P2
Which of the following equations could be
used to correctly calculate the final
temperature of a gas?
V1 × P1 × V2
A. T2 = P2 × T1
V2 × P2 × T1
B. T2 =
V1 × P1
C. T = V2 × P1 × T1
2
V1 × P2
D. V1 × P1 × T1
T2 =
V2 × P2
 Key Concepts

If the temperature is constant, as the pressure of

a gas increases, the volume decreases.

As the temperature of an enclosed gas

increases, the volume increases, if the pressure
is constant.

As the temperature of an enclosed gas increases,

the pressure increases, if the volume is constant.

When only the amount of gas is constant, the

combined gas law describes the relationship among
pressure, volume, and temperature.
 Key Equations

Boyle’s law: P1 × V1 = P2 × V2

V V
Charles’s law: =
T
1 T
2

1 2
P P
Gay-Lussac’s law: =
T
1 T
2

1 2
P1 × V1 P2 × V2
combined gas law: =
T1 T2
 Glossary Terms

• Boyle’s law: for a given mass of gas at constant

temperature, the volume of the gas varies inversely with
pressure
• Charles’s law: the volume of a fixed mass of gas is
directly proportional to its Kelvin temperature if the
pressure is kept constant
• Gay-Lussac’s law: the pressure of a gas is directly
proportional to the Kelvin temperature if the volume is
constant
• combined gas law: the law that describes the
relationship among the pressure, temperature, and
volume of an enclosed gas