Chapter 2

Gases

2.1 Properties of Gases

2.2 Gas Pressure

Kinetic Theory of Gases

A gas consists of small particles that
move rapidly in straight lines.
have essentially no attractive (or
repulsive) forces.
are very far apart.
have very small volumes
compared to the volume of the
container they occupy.
have kinetic energies that increase
with an increase in temperature.

Kinetic Molecular Theory

Particles in an ideal gas

have no volume.
have elastic collisions.
are in constant, random, straight-line
motion.
dont attract or repel each other.
have an avg. KE directly related to Kelvin
temperature.

Real Gases

Particles in a REAL gas

have their own volume
attract each other

Gas behavior is most ideal

at low pressures
at high temperatures
in nonpolar atoms/molecules

Characteristics of Gases

Gases expand to fill any container.

random motion, no attraction

Gases are fluids (like liquids).

no attraction

Gases have very low densities.

no volume = lots of empty space

Characteristics of Gases

Gases can be compressed.

no volume = lots of empty space

Gases undergo diffusion & effusion.

random motion

Properties That Describe a Gas

Gases are described in terms of four properties:
pressure (P), volume(V), temperature(T), and
amount(n).

Temperature

Always use absolute temperature

(Kelvin) when working with gases.

C 59 F 32

K = C + 273

Gas Pressure
Gas pressure
is described as a force acting on a specific area.
Pressure (P) = Force
Area
Has units of atm, mm Hg, torr, lb/in.2 and kilopascals(kPa).
1 atm
1 atm
1 atm
1 atm

=
=
=
=

760 mm Hg (exact)
760 torr
14.7 lb/in.2
101.325 kPa

Learning Check
A. What is 475 mm Hg expressed in atm?
1) 475 atm
2) 0.625 atm
3) 3.61 x 105 atm
B. The pressure in a tire is 2.00 atm. What is this
pressure in mm Hg?
1) 2.00 mm Hg
2) 1520 mm Hg
3) 22 300 mm Hg

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Solution
A. What is 475 mm Hg expressed in atm?
2) 0.625 atm
475 mm Hg x 1 atm
= 0.625 atm
760 mm Hg
B. The pressure of a tire is measured as 2.00 atm. What is
this pressure in mm Hg?
2) 1520 mm Hg
2.00 atm x 760 mm Hg = 1520 mm Hg
1 atm

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Atmospheric Pressure
Atmospheric pressure
is the pressure exerted by
a column of air from the
top of the atmosphere to
the surface of the Earth.

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Altitude and Atmospheric Pressure

Atmospheric pressure
is about 1 atmosphere at
sea level.
depends on the altitude
and the weather.
is lower at high altitudes
where the density of air
is less.
is higher on a rainy day
than on a sunny day.

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Barometer
A barometer
measures the pressure
exerted by the gases
in the atmosphere.
indicates atmospheric
pressure as the height
in mm of the mercury
column.

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Learning Check
A. The downward pressure of the Hg in a barometer is
_____ than (as) the pressure of the atmosphere.
1) greater
2) less
3) the same
B. A water barometer is 13.6 times taller than a Hg
barometer (DHg = 13.6 g/mL) because
1) H2O is less dense than mercury.
2) H2O is heavier than mercury.
3) air is more dense than H2O.

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Solution
A.The downward pressure of the Hg in a barometer is
3) the same (as) the pressure of the atmosphere.
B. A water barometer is 13.6 times taller than a Hg
barometer (DHg = 13.6 g/mL) because
1) H2O is less dense than mercury.

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Pressure
Measuring Atmospheric Pressure

Barometer device
that measures
atmospheric pressure

Invented by Evangelista
Torricelli in 1643

Pressure
Atmospheric Pressure

Changing weather conditions

Pressure
Atmospheric Pressure

Changing altitude

Record Sky Dive

Pressure
Units of Pressure

1 standard atmosphere
= 1.000 atm
= 760.0 mm Hg
= 760.0 torr
= 101,325 Pa (1Pa = 1 N/m2)

The air pressure on Everest is 0.3 atm. What is

that measured using the other units?

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Pressure
Measurement of Pressure

A manometer
measures the
pressure of a gas in
a container
Gas pressure is the
force exerted by the
collisions of gas
particles with a
surface

Pressure and Volume: Boyles Law

Robert Boyles
experiment
Around 1660 Boyle
studied the
relationship between
the pressure and
volume of a gas

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Pressure and Volume: Boyles Law

Draw a graph of V vs. P and also V vs. 1/P

Pressure and Volume: Boyles Law

Graphing Boyles results

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Pressure and Volume: Boyles Law

This graph has the shape of half of a hyperbola

with an equation
PV = k or V = k/P

Volume and pressure are inversely proportional.

If one increases the other decreases.

Pressure and Volume: Boyles Law

Another way of stating Boyles Law is
P1V1 = P2V2
(constant temperature and amount of gas)

(WOC P480 Q7-10)

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What makes this

balloon fly?

Balloon Launch

Volume and Temperature: Charless Law

Graphing data for several gases

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Volume and Temperature: Charless Law

It is easier to write an equation for the relationship if

the lines intersect the origin of the graph.
Use absolute zero for the temperature

Volume and Temperature: Charless Law

These graphs are lines with an equation

V = bT (where T is in kelvins)

Volume and temperature are directly proportional.

If one increases the other increases by the same proportion.

Another way of stating Charless Law is

V1 = V2
T1
T2
(constant pressure and amount of gas)

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Volume and Moles: Avogadros Law

Volume and Moles: Avogadros Law

Volume and moles are directly proportional.

If one increases the other increases
V = an
constant temperature and pressure

Another way of stating Avogadros Law is

V1 = V2
n1
n2
(constant temperature and pressure)

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