Chemistry Lab/Gas Laws

This page refers to the 2016 focus of Chemistry Lab.

Introduction to Gases
There are three main types of matter that we encounter frequently in our everyday lives: solids, liquids, and gases. Solids have definite shape and volume, liquids have indefinite shape but definite volume, and gases have neither. What makes gases unique is that gases are compressible due to the large spaces in between the particles. As you compress the gas, the particles go closer to each other, decreasing the volume.

Gases can be conceptually described by the Kinetic Molecular Theory. The theory states that
 * 1. There are no intermolecular attractions or repulsions between the gas particles.
 * 2. The actual volume of the gas particles is miniscule in comparison to the spaces in between them.
 * 3. Gas particles move continuously and in random directions.
 * 4. Every collision is elastic; that is, collisions preserve the amount of energy.
 * 5. The average kinetic energy is related to the temperature of the gas.

Some of these assumptions aren't necessarily true in real life; for example, gas particles have volume, and there will be intermolecular forces in an actual gas sample. However, we adopt these principles to make the calculations easier. By using the kinetic molecular theory, we can mathematically describe gases in simple, algebraic equations.

These equations will use the following variables:
 * P: pressure of the gas. This is usually in kPa, mmHg, or atm. One atm = 101.3 kPa = 760 mmHg.
 * T: temperature of the gas in Kelvin. 1 K = C - 273.15
 * V: volume of the gas in liters.
 * n: number of moles of the gas. Use molar mass to calculate this from mass.

Avogadro's Law
Avogadro's Law, also known as Avogadro's hypothesis or Avogadro's principle, says equal volumes of all gases, at the same temperature and pressure, have the same number of moles. In particular, the volume of a gas is proportional to the number of moles, which can be written as:
 * [math]V \propto n\,[/math]

Where V is the volume of the gas and n is the amount of the gas in moles.

Since we assume that the volume of the particles themselves is very small and can be assumed to be zero, it doesn't matter how large the particles are. At the same temperature and pressure, a mole of oxygen gas (O2) and a mole of carbon dioxide (CO2) have the same volume. At STP (standard temperature and pressure; that is, 1 atm and 273 K), one mole of a gas will take up 22.4 liters, no matter what.

Boyle's Law
Boyle's law states that the pressure of a gas increases as the volume of its container decreases, which can be written as:
 * [math]P_1 V_1 = P_2 V_2[/math]

where P is the pressure of the gas and V is the volume of the gas.

Note that pressure is force applied over the specified area. For example, if you stood on tip-toes, your weight (9.81 times your mass) will be distributed over the very small surface area of your toes, meaning that you're exerting more pressure. If you stood on your feet, your weight will stay constant but the pressure will decrease due to the increase in surface area.

Boyle's Law is an inverse relationship; that is, the volume of a gas increases as the pressure decreases. For example, if you apply a lot of pressure on a balloon, it should compress, thus decreasing the volume. Think about these laws in real-life scenarios, and you should be able to understand the equations without much memorization.

Charles' Law
Charles' law states that a temperature increase in gas causes it to expand, which can be written as:
 * [math]\frac{V_1}{T_1} = \frac{V_2}{T_2}[/math]

where V is the volume of the gas and T is the temperature of the gas.

If you increase the temperature of a balloon, the energy of the individual particles will increase and thus the particles will move faster. If the particles move faster, they will take up more space. Another way to think about Charles' Law is by remembering absolute zero (0K), or the temperature at which there is no entropy and no molecular movement. If super cold temperatures decrease molecular motion, super hot temperatures should cause them to move faster.

Amonton's Law/Gay Lussac's Law
Gay Lussac's Law states that as the temperature increases, the pressure should increase also if the volume stays constant.
 * [math]\frac{P_1}{T_1} = \frac{P_2}{T_2}[/math]

Again, think this conceptually. If you put a balloon on a hot stove and held it so that it could not expand, you will feel it pushing harder on your fingers due to the increased molecular motion.

The Combined Gas Law
The above equations may seem intimidating at first. Don't worry; you actually don't have to memorize each of them. Instead, memorize the combined gas law, which essentially "combines" the above laws into one, hence the name.
 * [math]\frac{P_1 V_1}{T_1 n_1} = \frac{P_2 V_2}{T_2 n_2}[/math]

Later, we'll discuss the Ideal Gas Law, which is very similar. However, we normally use this equation for problems involving two states. For example, a gas sample at 760 mm Hg and 30 L has its pressure increased to 1000 mm Hg. What's the resulting pressure? There are two states in this problem: the initial conditions (760 mmHg, 30L) and the final conditions (1000 mmHg, unknown pressure). Any variables not used (temperature and number of moles) can be discarded in your calculations.

Ideal Gas Law
The Ideal Gas Law states that gases that follow the Kinetic-Molecular Theory (and thus act ideal) can be mathematically described as:
 * [math]PV = nRT[/math]

This is very similar to the Combined Gas Law; however, use it when the problem only asks about one state. For example, a gas is at 300 K, 760 mmHg, and has a volume of 20L. How many moles of gas are there? There is only one set of conditions: 300K, 760 mmHg, and 20L, so we can put those values into the equation and obtain the number of moles. The R represents the gas constant, which is the same at all pressures and temperatures.

The values of the gas constant are as follows. You generally need to know three forms of the gas constant.
 * 8.314 kPa L/moles K AND 8.314 J/moles K
 * 0.08206 atm L/moles K
 * 62.36 mmHg L/moles K.

Keep in mind that the only unit that changes between these gas constants is the pressure. Make sure all of the volumes, temperatures, and moles are in their respective units before plugging it into the formula.

Dalton's Law
Dalton's Law, also known as Dalton's Law of Partial Pressures, states that in a mixsture of non-reacting gases, the total pressure exerted is equal to the sum of the partial pressures of the individual gases. This can be expressed in mathematical terms as:
 * [math]P_{total} = P_1 + P_2 + ... + P_n[/math]

This law is due to the lack of intermolecular forces between the particles. If there are no attractive nor repulsive forces between molecules, then each particle acts independently, no matter its composition. You can also use the mole fraction, or the ratio between the moles of one of the gases over the moles of the whole gas mixture, to calculate the pressure of one of the gases. Mole fractions are represented by a lower-case chi, or χ.


 * [math]P_1 = χ_1 P_{total}[/math]

The mole fraction can be calculated by this formula:
 * [math]χ_1 = \frac{ \text{moles of gas 1} }{ \text{moles of mixture} }[/math]

Barometers and Manometers
A barometer is an evacuated tube of mercury that is flipped upside down and slightly submerged in a bath of mercury. Barometers are used to measure the atmospheric pressure at a certain location. The atmospheric pressure will push on the exposed mercury in the bath, and the resulting displacement of mercury will push mercury up the tube. The measurement on the tube should tell you the atmospheric pressure.

A manometer is a U shaped tube containing mercury that can either be closed on both ends or open on one end. In general, these devices are used to measure the pressure of a gas in a flask connected to the tube at one end. In a closed-tube manometer (both ends are closed), the height difference of the mercury at the two ends of the U will tell you the pressure of the gas. In an open-ended manometer (one end is open to the atmosphere), the height difference at the two ends of the U added or subtracted from the atmospheric pressure will tell you the gas's pressure. If the mercury level is higher on the open side than the one closest to the flask, you should add the height to the atmospheric pressure. If the mercury level is lower on the open side than the closed side, you should subtract the height from the atmospheric pressure.