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The Gaseous State

1 Kinetic Theory of Matter

Volume

Shape

Definite volume

(fixed)

(fixed)

Definite shape

Containerdependent

Containerdependent

(varies)

(varies)

Almost
incompressible

Compressible

(fixed)

Relative
compressibilit
y
Relative
density

Containerdependent

Definite volume

Incompressible
(nil)

high density

(very low)
high density

(varies)

(very high)

Low density

Table Bulk

Characteristics of Solids, Liquids & Gases

The main points in the Kinetic Theory of Matter are:
a

All matter is composed of tiny particles which are in constant motion

For a crystalline solid:

i
ii
iii

For a liquid:
i
ii

There are strong attractive forces between particles

Particles are closely packed in an orderly arrangement or lattice
Particles vibrate and rotate about fixed positions

There are relatively strong attractive forces between particles

Particles vibrate, rotate and move throughout the liquid in clusters or
aggregates

For a gas:
i
ii
iii

There are negligible attractive forces between the particles

Particles are very far apart
Particles vibrate, rotate and move anywhere within the container
randomly and at high speeds

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Collisions between particles and the walls of the container account for the
pressure of the gas

1. Kinetic Theory of Gases

The Kinetic Theory of Gases is a mathematical model of an ideal gas. Such a gas
does not exist but the model can be used to explain the behaviour of real gases.
Basic Assumptions of kinetic theory of gases
1.

Gases consist of small particles of negligible size/volume as compared

to the size of the container

2.

Gas particles have negligible intermolecular attraction between each

other

3.

Collisions between gas particles are perfectly elastic. I.e. there is no loss
of kinetic energy upon collision, and the particles do not stick together

4.

Gas particles are in constant random motion, colliding with one another
and the walls of the container

5.

The average kinetic energy of the gas particles is a constant at constant

temperature, and it is proportional to the absolute temperature (Kelvin
scale)

2. Conditions for an Ideal Gas

A) Low Pressure
Gas molecules are widely spaced and so, have negligible size/volume.
B) High Temperatures (well above boiling point)
There are negligible intermolecular attractions since gas particles
have sufficient kinetic energy to overcome it.
3. Deviations from Ideality
A) High Pressure
Gas molecules are packed close together, and the size of a gas molecule
cannot be assumed to be negligible.
B) Low Temperatures
Forces of attraction between gas molecules are significant.
C) Polarity of Molecules

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Polar molecules (such as NH3) have strong intermolecular forces of

attraction (Hydrogen Bonds) between the molecules and so, deviate from
ideality than non-polar molecules (such as H 2 and N2).

4. General Gas Equation

The general gas equation gives the relationship between the volume of a
given mass of gas and the prevailing conditions (temperature, pressure).
pV = nRT
p = pressure in Pa (or N m-2)
V = volume in m3
n = no. of moles of gas
R = gas constant (8.31 J K-1 mol-1)
T = temperature in K
Practice Questions
1. A mixture of three gases with the composition by volume of 40% nitrogen,
10% oxygen and 50% hydrogen in a 10 dm 3 vessel, exerts a pressure of 6 atm at
10C. [Molar gas constant, R = 8.31 J K -1 mol]
(a) Calculate the partial pressure of the hydrogen gas. (3 atm)
(b) In an experiment, a certain amount of nitrogen gas is injected into the vessel
to increase the total pressure to 8 atm, calculate the number of moles of
nitrogen gas that has to be injected to attain this new total pressure, without
changing the volume of the vessel.
(0.859 mol)
(c) In a separate experiment, the volume of the vessel is reduced to 4 dm 3 at
constant temperature. Calculate the new pressure of the system. (15 atm)
(d) Under what conditions do real gases deviate from ideality? Explain your
reasoning.

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(a) Propenoic acid (Mr = 72) is maintained at 1.01 x 105 Pa and 93C. Using
the ideal gas equation, calculate the density of propenoic acid vapour under
these conditions. (2.39 x 103 g m-3)
(b) The measured density of propenoic acid vapour was found to be
different from that calculated using the ideal gas equation. Explain the
difference using your knowledge of ideal gases.

3.

(a) A vessel of volume 4 dm3 at 16C contains 40.6 g of an element in its

gaseous state. The pressure in the vessel is 3.4 atm. Identify the element
present in the vessel. (Chlorine)
(b) A sample of non-ideal gas has a volume of 0.650dm 3 at s.t.p. What is the
volume of the same gas sample at r.t.p? (0.710 dm3)

4. Ammonia is a building block for the synthesis of many pharmaceuticals. It

can react with hydrogen chloride gas according to this equation:
NH3 (g) + HCI (g) 4 NH4C/ (s)
(a)
At room temperature, a 2 dm3 flask that contains 0.12 mole of
ammonia and another 3 dm3 flask that contains a mixture of excess hydrogen
chloride gas and 82.6 kPa of neon, an inert gas, are connected by a stopcock.
When the stopcock is opened, the gases react till ammonia is completely
consumed.
(i)
(49.6 kPa)

Calculate the partial pressure of neon after the stopcock is removed.

(ii)
Given that the final pressure of the system is 93.0 kPa. Calculate the
initial number of moles of hydrogen chloride gas before the stopcock is
opened. (0.208 mol)
(b)
Using the same axes, sketch two V against 1/P graphs for an ideal gas
at 00C and at 1000C respectively.

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5. The mineral dolomite is a double carbonate of magnesium and calcium, with the
formula CaMg(CO3)2. This mineral dissolves in most dilute mineral acids such as
hydrochloric acid to generate carbon dioxide gas together with a mixture of Group II
metal salts according to the chemical reaction shown below.
CaMg(CO3)2 (aq) + 4HC/ (aq)

MgC/2 (aq) + CaC/2 (aq) + 2CO2 (g) + 2H20 (I)

a
Determine the volume of carbon dioxide generated at 27C and 101
kPa upon the reaction between 92 g of the mineral dolomite and an excess of
hydrochloric acid, assuming that carbon dioxide behaves ideally. [Given that
the Mr of dolomite is 184]. (0.0247 m3)
b
By considering the reaction of a given mass of mineral dolomite with
an excess of
hydrochloric acid, predict the volume ratio of the carbon dioxide generated at
15C and 79 kPa relative to that generated at 35 C and 200 kPa. (2.12)

6. When 4.20g of a compound was completely vaporized in a gas syringe at 27 0C

and a pressure of 8 x 104 Pa, 1.00 dm3 of vapour was produced. Calculate the
relative molecular mass of the compound. (130.9)
7. A certain compound of carbon, hydrogen and chlorine is found to have a vapour
density of 3.17 g dm-3 at 1000C and 101.3 kPa. Calculate the relative molecular
mass of the compound and hence, its molecular formula. (97, C 2H2Cl2)
8. At 338K, pure PCl5 gas present in a flask has a pressure of 25.5 kPa. At 480K, this
is completely dissociated into PCl3 (g) and Cl2 (g). Write a balanced equation for the
reaction taking place in the flask. What is the pressure in the flask at 480K? (72.4
kPa)
9. Argon is an inert gas which exists in the atmosphere as single atoms.
(a) Give two assumptions of the kinetic theory as applied to an inert gas.
(b) How many atoms of argon are there in one mole of the gas?
(c) To calculate the percentage of the volume occupied by the atoms themselves in
one mole of argon at room temperature and pressure:
3

(i) Calculate the volume of one atom of argon. [volume = 4/3 r 3] (2.96 x 10-26

dm )
(ii) Hence calculate the volume of one mole of argon atoms. (1.78 x 10 -2 dm3)
(iii) Assuming that argon behaves as an ideal gas, what is the volume
occupied by one mole
of argon at room temperature and pressure? (24
dm3)

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(iv) Determine the percentage of this volume occupied by the atoms

themselves. (0.0742%)
(d) How does your answer to (c)(iv) justify one of your assumptions in (a)?
(e) Electric light bulbs are filled with argon, and have a fine metal filament which
glows white hot from its electrical resistance to the current. Suggest why argon,
rather than air is used to fill electric light bulbs.