1

WESTERN LEYTE COLLEGE

SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL- SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY,
ENGINEERING AND MATHEMATICS (STEM)
K to 12 CURRICULUM

MODULE
in

Gases

Instructor: Elton Jhon M. Meridor

Principal: Isabelita T. Peroso

General Chemistry I
 2

General Chemistry I
 3

GASES

Objective
To understand the mathematical relationship between pressure, volume, number of moles and
temperature of a gas
Overview
In this lesson, you will learn to express the different units of gas pressure. The relationship among
pressure, volume, temperature, and amount of gas will also be learned. The study of stoichiometry
involving gases will also be discussed.
Background:
Gas Laws
Gases exert pressure because their molecules move freely and collide with any surface with which
they make contact. Units of gas pressure include millimeters of mercury (mmHg), torr, Pascal, and
atmospheres. One atmosphere equals 760 mmHg, or 760 torr. The Kelvin temperature scale takes 0 K as
absolute zero. In all gas law calculations, temperature must be expressed in Kelvins (Chang, 2010).
 Boyle’s law - volume is inversely proportional to pressure at constant temperature and number of
moles of a substance.
e.g. A sample of gas occupies 12 L under a pressure of 1.2 atm. What would its volume be if the
pressure were increased to 2.4 atm?
Solution:
P1 = 1.2 atm P2 = 2.4 atm V1 = 12 L V2 = ?
𝑃1𝑉1 (1.2 𝑎𝑡𝑚)(12𝐿)
P1V1 = P2V2  V2 = = = 6.0 L
𝑃2 2.4 𝑎𝑡𝑚
 Charles’s and Gay-Lussac’s law - volume is directly proportional to temperature constant
pressure and number of moles of a substance.
e.g. A sample of nitrogen occupies 117 mL at 100°C. At what temperature in °C would it occupy
234 mL if the pressure did not change?
Solution:
V1 = 117 mL V2 = 234 mL T1 = 100°C + 273 K = 373 K T2 = ?
𝑉1 𝑉2 𝑉2𝑇1 (234 𝑚𝐿)(373𝐾)
=  T2 = = = 746 K
𝑇2 𝑇2 𝑉1 117 𝑚𝐿

General Chemistry I
 4

 Avogadro’s law - equal volumes of gases contain equal numbers of molecules at the same
Temperature and pressure.
e.g. Calculate the volume of O2 (in liters) required for the complete combustion of 7.64 L of
acetylene (C2H2) measured at the same temperature and pressure.
Solution:
2C2H2 + 5O2  4CO2 + 2H2O
5 𝐿 𝑂2
Volume of O2 = 7.64 L C2H2 x = 19.1 L O2
2 𝐿 𝐶2𝐻2

 The ideal gas equation, PV=nRT, combines the laws of Boyle, Charles, and Avogadro.
e.g. Sulfur hexafluoride (SF6) is a colorless, odorless, very unreactive gas. Calculate the pressure
(in atm) exerted by 1.82 moles of the gas in a steel vessel of volume 5.43 L at 69.58°C.
Solution:
𝑛𝑅𝑇 5 𝐿 𝑂2
PV=nRT  P= = = 19.1 L O2
𝑉 2 𝐿 𝐶2𝐻2

 Combined Gas Law equation, the combination of Boyle’s Law and Charles’s Law into a single
expression.
e.g. A small bubble rises from the bottom of a lake, where the temperature and pressure are 88°C
and 6.4 atm, to the water’s surface, where the temperature is 258°C and the pressure is 1.0 atm.
Calculate the final volume (in mL) of the bubble if its initial volume was 2.1 mL.
Solution:
P1 = 6.4 atm V1 = 2.1 mL T1 = 8 + 273 K = 281 K
P2 = 1.0 atm V2 = ? T2 = 25 + 273 K = 298 K
𝑃1𝑉1 𝑃2𝑉2 𝑉1𝑃1𝑇2 (2.1 𝑚𝐿)(6.4 𝑎𝑡𝑚)(298 𝐾)
=  V2 = = = 14 mL
𝑇2 𝑇2 𝑃2𝑇1 (1.0 𝑎𝑡𝑚)(281 𝐾)

General Chemistry I
 5

 Dalton’s law of partial pressures states that the total pressure exerted by a mixture of ideal gases
is the sum of the partial pressures of individual gases.

Figure 7. Schematic representation of Dalton’s law of partial pressures (Chang, 2010)

e.g. A mixture of gases contains 4.46 moles of neon (Ne), 0.74 mole of argon (Ar), and 2.15 moles
of xenon (Xe). Calculate the partial pressures of the gases if the total pressure is 2.00 atm at a
certain temperature.
Plan: mole fraction of gases  partial pressure of gases
Solution:
Mole Fractions of Ne, Ar and Xe
𝑛𝑁𝑒 4.46 𝑚𝑜𝑙
XNe = = = 0.607
𝑛𝑁𝑒+𝑛𝐴𝑟+𝑛𝑋𝑒 4.46 𝑚𝑜𝑙+0.74 𝑚𝑜𝑙+2.15 𝑚𝑜𝑙
𝑛𝐴𝑟 0.74 𝑚𝑜𝑙
XAr = = = 0.100
𝑛𝑁𝑒+𝑛𝐴𝑟+𝑛𝑋𝑒 4.46 𝑚𝑜𝑙+0.74 𝑚𝑜𝑙+2.15 𝑚𝑜𝑙
𝑛𝑋𝑒 2.15 𝑚𝑜𝑙
XXe = = = 0.293
𝑛𝑁𝑒+𝑛𝐴𝑟+𝑛𝑋𝑒 4.46 𝑚𝑜𝑙+0.74 𝑚𝑜𝑙+2.15 𝑚𝑜𝑙
Partial Pressure of Ne, Ar and Xe
PNe = XNePT = 0.607 x 2.00 atm = 1.21 atm
PAr = XArPT = 0.100 x 2.00 atm = 0.20 atm
PXe = XXePT = 0.293 x 2.00 atm = 0.59 atm

General Chemistry I
 6

The kinetic molecular theory is based on the following assumptions: gas molecules are separated by
large distances, negligible volume, in constant motion, frequently collide with one another and perfectly
elastic. Temperature is directly proportional to kinetic molecular speed.
Graham’s law of diffusion and effusion shows that in diffusion, two gases gradually mix with each other
and in effusion, gas molecules move through a small opening under pressure.
e.g. A flammable gas made up only of carbon and hydrogen is found to effuse through a porous
barrier in 1.50 min. Under the same conditions of temperature and pressure, it takes an equal volume of
bromine vapor 4.73 min to effuse through the same barrier. Calculate the molar mass of the unknown gas.
Solution:
Molar Mass: Br2 = 159.8 g/mol

𝑟1 𝑀2 1.50 𝑚𝑖𝑛 𝑀2
= √  = √159.8 𝑔/𝑚𝑜𝑙
𝑟2 𝑀1 4.73 𝑚𝑖𝑛

1.50 𝑚𝑖𝑛 2
M2 = ( ) x 159.8 g/mol
4.73 𝑚𝑖𝑛
= 16.1 g/mol
The van der Waals equation is a modification of the ideal gas equation that takes into account the
non-ideal behavior of real gases since, real gas molecules do exert forces on each other and have volume.
The van der Waals constants are determined experimentally for each gas.

Gas Stoichiometry
A quantitative approach in measuring gases that are produce during chemical reaction. Ideal gas
equation is useful to identify the relationship between pressure, volume, number of moles and temperature
of a gas.
e.g. Sodium azide (NaN3) is used in some automobile air bags. The impact of a collision triggers the
decomposition of NaN3 as follows:
2NaN3 (s)  2Na (s) + 3N2 (g)
The nitrogen gas produced quickly inflates the bag between the driver and the windshield and dashboard.
Calculate the volume of N2 generated at 80°C and 823 mmHg by the decomposition of 60.0 g of NaN3.
Solution:
grams of NaN3 moles of NaN3 moles of N2 volume of N2
molar mass: 65.02 g NaN3

General Chemistry I
 7

1 𝑚𝑜𝑙 𝑁𝑎𝑁3 3 𝑚𝑜𝑙 𝑁2

moles of N2 = 60.0 g NaN3 x x = 1.38 mol N2
65.02 𝑔 𝑁𝑎𝑁3 2 𝑚𝑜𝑙 𝑁𝑎𝑁3
𝐿.𝑎𝑡𝑚
𝑛𝑅𝑇 (1.38 𝑚𝑜𝑙)(0.0821 𝐾.𝑚𝑜𝑙)(80+273𝐾)
PV = 𝑛𝑅𝑇  V= = 823 = 36.9 L
𝑃 (760)𝑎𝑡𝑚

REACTION/QUESTION:

Key equations (Chang, 2010):

General Chemistry I
 8

Exercise
1. A gas occupying a volume of 725 mL at a pressure of 0.970 atm is allowed to expand at constant
temperature until its pressure reaches 0.541 atm. What is its final volume?
2. A sample of oxygen occupies 10.0 L under a pressure of 790 torr (105 kPa). At what pressure
would it occupy 13.4 L if the temperature did not change?
3. A sample of neon occupies 105 liters at 27°C under a pressure of 985 torr. What volume would it
occupy at standard temperature and pressure (STP)?
4. Calculate the volume (in liters) occupied by 2.12 moles of nitric oxide (NO) at 6.54 atm and 76°C.
5. A sample of oxygen gas initially at 0.97 atm is cooled from 21°C to -68°C at constant volume.
What is its fi nal pressure (in atm)?
6. A gas initially at 4.0 L, 1.2 atm, and 66°C undergoes a change so that its final volume and
temperature are 1.7 L and 42°C. What is its final pressure? Assume the number of moles remains
unchanged.
7. Calculate the density of carbon dioxide (CO2) in grams per liter (g/L) at 0.990 atm and 55°C.
8. A chemist has synthesized a greenish-yellow gaseous compound of chlorine and oxygen and finds
that its density is 7.71 g/L at 36°C and 2.88 atm, calculate the molar mass of the compound and
determine its molecular formula.
9. Chemical analysis of a gaseous compound showed that it contained 33.0% silicon (Si) and 67.0%
fluorine (F) by mass. At 35°C, 0.210 L of the compound exerted a pressure of 1.70 atm. If the
mass of 0.210 L of the compound was 2.38 g, calculate the molecular formula of the compound.
10. The equation for the metabolic breakdown of glucose (C6H12O6) is the same as the equation for
the combustion of glucose in air:
2C6H12O6 + 6O2  6CO2 + 6H2O
Calculate the volume of CO2 produced at 37°C and 1.00 atm when 5.60 g of glucose is used up in
the reaction.
11. A sample of natural gas contains 8.24 moles of propane (C3H8), 0.421 mole of butane (C4H10), and
0.116 mole of pentane (C5H12). If the total pressure of the gases is 1.37 atm, what are the partial
pressures of the gases?
12. Hydrogen gas is generated when calcium metal reacts with water. The volume of gas collected at
30°C and pressure of 988 mmHg is 641 mL. What is the mass (in grams) of the hydrogen gas
obtained? The pressure of water vapor at 30°C is 31.82 mmHg.

General Chemistry I
 9

13. Calculate the root-mean-square speeds of helium atoms and nitrogen molecules in m/s at 25°C.
14. It takes 192 s for an unknown gas to effuse through a porous wall and 84 s for the same volume of
N2 gas to effuse at the same temperature and pressure. What is the molar mass of the unknown
gas?
15. Calculate the pressure exerted by 4.37 moles of molecular chlorine confined in a volume of 2.45
L at 38°C. Compare the pressure with that calculated using the ideal gas equation.
(a = 6. 49 atm . L2/mol2 ; b = 0.0562 L/mol).

REFERENCES

CALIBO, C., A. ACABAL, J. G. JANSALIN, A. ACABAL, O. CORALES, E. QUEVEDO, M. P.

LORETO, A. RAMAL, F. SALAS, E. LANDERITO, and D. A. VARRON. 2010. Laboratory
manual in Chemistry 11: General Chemistry. Revised Ed. Visayas State University, Visca, Baybay
City.

CHANG, R. 2010. Chemistry, 10th ed. McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.

WHITTEN, K., DAVIS, R., PECK, M. L. and G. STANLEY. 2010. Chemistry, 9th ed.

SMITH, J. 2011. Organic Chemistry, 3rd ed.

USC Chemistry Review Center. 2016. Chemistry Review Manual.

General Chemistry I
 10

Name: ______________________________ Section: ________________________________

Date Received: _______________________ Date Submitted: _________________________
Score: ____________

1. At 46°C a sample of ammonia gas exerts a pressure of 5.3 atm. What is the pressure when the
volume of the gas is reduced to one-tenth (0.10) of the original value at the same temperature?
Assume 22.4 L initial volume.

2. What is the density (in g/L) of uranium hexafluoride (UF6) at 779 mmHg and 62°C?

3. The volume of a gas is 5.80 L, measured at 1.00 atm. What is the pressure of the gas in mmHg if
the volume is changed to 9.65 L? (The temperature remains constant.)

4. A 36.4-L volume of methane gas is heated from 25°C to 88°C at constant pressure. What is the
final volume of the gas?

General Chemistry I
 11

5. Under constant-pressure conditions a sample of hydrogen gas initially at 88°C and 9.6 L is cooled
until its final volume is 3.4 L. What is its final temperature?

6. A gaseous compound is 78.14% boron and 21.86% hydrogen. At 27°C, 74.3 mL of the gas exerted
a pressure of 1.12 atm. If the mass of the gas was 0.0934 g, what is its molecular formula?

7. A sample of nitrogen gas kept in a container of volume 2.3 L and at a temperature of 32°C exerts
a pressure of 4.7 atm. Calculate the number of moles of gas.

8. Given that 6.9 moles of carbon monoxide gas are present in a container of volume 30.4 L, what is
the pressure of the gas (in atm) if the temperature is 62°C?

General Chemistry I
 12

9. Assuming no change in temperature and pressure, calculate the volume of O2 (in liters) required
for the complete combustion of 14.9 L of butane (C4H10):
2C4H10 + 13O2  8CO2 + 10H2O

10. What volume will 5.6 moles of sulfur hexafluoride (SF6) gas occupy if the temperature and
pressure of the gas are 128°C and 9.4 atm?

11. A mixture of gases contains 0.31 mol CH4, 0.25 mol C2H6, and 0.29 mol C3H8. The total pressure
is 1.50 atm. Calculate the partial pressures of the gases.

12. Oxygen gas is generated by the decomposition of potassium. The volume of oxygen collected at
24°C and atmospheric pressure of 762 mmHg is 128 mL. Calculate the mass (in grams) of oxygen
gas obtained. The pressure of the water vapor at 24°C is 22.4 mmHg.

General Chemistry I
 13

13. The temperature in the stratosphere is -23°C. Calculate the root-mean-square speeds of N2, O2, and
O3 molecules in this region. (R= 8.314 J/[Link])

14. Uranium hexafluoride (UF6) is a much heavier gas than hydrogen, yet at a given temperature the
average kinetic energies of these two gases are the same. Explain.

15. Given that 3.50 moles of NH3 occupy 5.20 L at 47°C, calculate the pressure of the gas (in atm)
using (a) the ideal gas equation and (b) the van der Waals equation (a = 4.17 atm . L2/mol2 ; b =
0.0371 L/mol).

General Chemistry I