Name D a te _______ Class

CHEMFILE M INI-GUIDE TO PROBLEM SOLVING [

The Ideal Gas Law

In 1811, the Italian chemist Amedeo Avogadro proposed the principle

that equal volumes o f gases at the same temperature and pressure con
tain equal numbers o f molecules. He determined that at standard tem
perature and pressure, one mole of gas occupies 22.414 10 L (usually
rounded to 22.4 L).
At this point, if you know the number of moles of a gas, you can use
the molar volume of 22.4 L/mol to calculate the volume that amount of
gas would occupy at STP. Then you could use the combined gas law to
determine the volume of the gas under any other set of conditions. How
ever, a much simpler way to accomplish the same task is by using the
ideal gas law.
The ideal gas law is a mathematical relationship that has the condi
tions of standard temperature (273 K) and pressure (1 atm or 101.3 kPa)
plus the molar gas volume (22.4 L/mol) already combined into a single
constant. The following equation is the mathematical statement of the
ideal gas law.
PV = nRT
in which
P = the pressure of a sample of gas
V = the volume of a sample of gas
n = the number of moles of gas present
T = the Kelvin temperature of the gas
R = the ideal gas constant, which combines standard conditions
and molar volume into a single constant
The value of the ideal gas constant, R, depends on the units of P and V
being used in the equation. Temperature is always in kelvins and amount
of gas is always in moles. The most common values used for R are shown
below.
U nits o f P a n d V V alue o f R
L*atm
Atm ospheres and liters 00821
mol* K

L*kPa
Kilopascals and liters 8.314
mol* K

1 of 12
Name D a te _______ Class

CHEMFILE M INI-GUIDE TO PROBLEM SOLVING

If you have volume units other than liters or pressure units other than
atmospheres or kilopascals, it is best to convert volume to liters and pres
sure to atmospheres or kilopascals.

General Plan fo r S o lv in g Ideal-G as-Law Problem s

The equation for

the ideal gas law
PV = nRT

Determine from the data which

is the unknown quantity.
Rearrange the equation
algebraically to solve for the
unknown quantity.

'A n equation that can

be used to calculate
the unknown quantity

Choose the gas constant, R, that

best fits the units of the data.
Substitute each of the data values
in the equation and calculate.

& Unknown
P, V, n, or T

SAMPLE PROBLEM 1
An engineer pumps 5.00 mol of carbon monoxide gas into a
cylinder that has a capacity of 20.0 L. What is the pressure in
kPa of CO inside the cylinder at 25C?

SOLUTION
1. ANALYZE
What is given in the the amount in moles of gas pumped
problem? into the cylinder, the volume of the
cylinder, and the temperature

2 of 12
Name D a te _______ Class

CHEMFILE M INI-GUIDE TO PROBLEM SOLVING [

i What are you asked to find? the pressure of the gas in the
cylinder

Item s D ata
Am ount of gas, n 5.00 mol
Volume of gas in cylinder, V 20.0 L
Temperature of gas, t 25C
Kelvin tem perature of gas, T (25 + 273) K = 298 K
Ideal gas constant, R 0.0821 L* atm/mol *K or
8.314 L* kPa/mol * K
Pressure in cylinder, P ? kPa

2 . PLAN
What steps are needed to Rearrange the ideal-gas-law equation
calculate the new pressure to solve for P, substitute known
o f the gas? quantities, and calculate.

D
Ideal-gas-law
equation,
PV = nRT
solve the ideal-
gas-law equation
for pressure

B
= nRT
P
V
the problem asks for
answer in kPa, so choose
the appropriate R,
substitute known values,
and solve

B
Unknown pressure,
P

P V = nRT
Solve the ideal-gas-law equation for P, the unknown quantity.
nRT
P=
V

3 of 12
Name D a te _______ Class

CHEMFILE M INI-GUIDE TO PROBLEM SOLVING

3. COMPUTE
The problem asks for pressure in kPa, so use R =
8.314 L kPa/mol K.
5.00 mol X 8.314 L*kPa/m ei-K X 298 K
P = = 619 kPa
20.0 L

4 . EVALUATE
Are the units correct?
Is the number o f significant
figures correct?
Is the answer reasonable?
Yes; the ideal gas constant was se
lected so that the units canceled to
give kPa.
Yes; the number of significant fig
ures is correct because data were
given to three significant figures.
Yes; the calculation can be approxi
mated as (1/4) X (8 X 300), or
2400/4, which equals 600. Thus,
619 kPa is in the right range.

PRACTICE

1. Use the ideal-gas-law equation to calculate the unknown quantity in

each of the following sets of measurements. You will need to con
vert Celsius temperatures to Kelvin temperatures and volume units
to liters.

P V n T
a. 1.09 atm ?L 0.0881 302 K ans: 2.00 L
mol
b. 94.9 kPa 0.0350 L ? mol 55C ans: 1.22 X 10- 3 mol
c. ? kPa 15.7 L 0.815 - 20.C ans: 109 kPa
mol
d. 0.500 atm 629 mL 0.0337 ?K ans: 114 K
mol
e. 0.950 atm ?L 0.0818 19C ans: 2.06 L
mol
f. 107 kPa 39.0 mL ? mol 27C ans: 1.67 X 10 3 mol

2. A student collects 425 mL of oxygen at

a temperature of 24C and a pressure
of 0.899 atm. How many moles of
oxygen did the student collect? ans: 1.57 X 10 2 mol O2

4 of 12
Name D a te _______ Class

CHEMFILE M INI-GUIDE TO PROBLEM SOLVING

APPLICATIONS OF THE IDEAL GAS LAW

You have seen that you can use the ideal gas law to calculate the moles of
gas, n, in a sample when you know the pressure, volume, and tempera
ture of the sample. When you know the amount and identity of the sub
stance, you can use its molar mass to calculate its mass. You did this
when you learned how to convert between mass and moles. The relation
ship is expressed as follows.
M ass in grams

m
n=
Molar mass in grams p er mole
Am ount in moles

If you substitute the expression m /M for n in the ideal-gas-law equa

tion, you get the following equation.

This version of the ideal gas law can be solved for any of the five vari
ables P, V, m, M, or T. It is especially useful in determining the molecu
lar mass of a substance. This equation can also be related to the density
of a gas. Density is mass per unit volume, as shown in the following
equation.

Solve for m:
m = DV

Then, substitute D V for m in the gas law equation:

The two Vterms cancel and the equation is rearranged to give:

PM = DRT or

This equation can be used to compute the density of a gas under any
conditions of temperature and pressure. It can also be used to calculate
the molar mass of an unknown gas if its density is known.
C

5 of 12
Name D a te _______ Class

CHEMFILE M INI-GUIDE TO PROBLEM SOLVING

General Plan fo r S o lv in g Problem s In vo lvin g

A p p lica tio n s o f the Ideal G as Law

Determine which n r
equation fits the PM
D
problem. RT

Rearrange the equation

algebraically to
solve for the
unknown quantity.

An equation that can

be used to calculate
the unknown quantity

Choose the gas constant, R, that

best fits the units of the data.
Substitute each of the data values
in the equation and calculate.

& Unknown
P, V, m, M, D or T

SAMPLE PROBLEM 2
Determine the molar mass of an unknown gas that has a vol
ume of 72.5 mL at a temperature of 68C, a pressure of
0.980 atm, and a mass of 0.207 g.

SOLUTION
1. ANALYZE
What is given in the the mass, pressure, volume, and
problem? temperature of the gas
What are you asked to find? the molar mass of the gas

6 of 12
Name D a te _______ Class

CHEMFILE M INI-GUIDE TO PROBLEM SOLVING [

iI Item s D ata
Volume of gas, V 72.5 mL
Temperature of gas, t 68C
Kelvin tem perature of gas, T (68 + 273) K = 341 K
Pressure of gas, P 0.980 atm
Mass of gas, m 0.207 g
Ideal gas constant, R 8.314 L* kPa/mol K or
0.0821 L* atm/mol* K
Molar mass of gas, M ? g/mol

2 . PLAN
What steps are needed to
calculate the new volume o f
the gas?
Select the equation that will give the
desired result. Solve the equation for
the unknown quantity. Substitute
data values into the solved equation,
and calculate.

PV = m RT
M
solve this
equation for
m olar mass

B
= mRT
M
PV
the problem gives
pressure in atm, so
choose the appropriate R,
substitute known values,
and solve

B
Unknown molar
mass, M
Use the equation that includes m and M.

P V = mMR T

Solve the equation for M, the unknown quantity.

mRT
M=
PV

7 of 12
Name D a te _______ Class

CHEMFILE M INI-GUIDE TO PROBLEM SOLVING

3. COMPUTE
Convert the volume in milliliters to liters
1L
72.5 mC = 0.0725 L
1000 mL
The data give pressure in atm, so use R = 0.0821 L atm/mol K.
m RT 0.207 g X 0.0821 L-atJfi/moHK X 341 K
M =
PV 0.980 atm X 0.0725 L
= 81.6 g/mol
4. EVALUATE
Are the units correct? Yes; units canceled to give g/mol,
the correct units for molar mass.
Is the number o f significant Yes; the number of significant fig
figures correct? ures is correct because data were
given to three significant figures.
Is the answer reasonable? Yes; 81.6 g/mol is a reasonable
molar mass. The calculation can be
approximated as 0.2 X 341 X (8/7),
which is roughly 80.

PRACTICE

1. A sample of an unknown gas has a mass of

0.116 g. It occupies a volume of 25.0 mL at a
temperature of 127C and has a pressure of
155.3 kPa. Calculate the molar mass of the gas. ans: 99.4 g/mol
2. Determine the mass of CO2 gas that has a
volume of 7.10 L at a pressure of 1.11 atm and
a temperature of 31C. Hint: Solve the equation
for m, and calculate the molar mass using the
chemical formula and the periodic table. ans: 13.9 g

SAMPLE PROBLEM 3
Determine the density of hydrogen bromide gas at 3.10 atm
and 5C.

SOLUTION
1. ANALYZE
What is given in the the pressure and temperature of the
problem? HBr gas
What are you asked to find? the density of the gas
C

8 of 12
Name D a te _______ Class

CHEMFILE M INI-GUIDE TO PROBLEM SOLVING

Item s D ata
Temperature of HBr, t - 5C
Kelvin tem perature of HBr, T ( - 5 + 273) K = 268 K
Pressure of HBr, P 3.10 atm
Molar mass of HBr, M* 80.91 g/mol
Ideal gas constant, R 8.314 L* kPa/mol K or
0.0821 L* atm/mol * K
Density of HBr, D ? g/L
* determined from the periodic table

2. PLAN
What steps are needed to
calculate the density o f HBr
under the conditions given?
Select the equation that will give
the desired result. Rearrange the
equation to solve for the unknown
quantity. Substitute data values into
the correct equation, and calculate.

PM
D
RT
equation is already
written correctly to solve
for the unknown

PM
D
RT
the problem gives
pressure in atm, so
choose the appropriate R,
substitute known values,
and solve

H
Unknown density, D
Use the equation that includes density.
PM
D =
RT
3 . COMPUTE
The data give pressure in atm, so use R = 0.0821 L atm/mol K.
PM 3.10 atm X 80.91 g/mol
D = = 11.4 g/L
RT 0.0821 L*atm/mo~-K X 268 K

9 of 12
Name D a te _______ Class

CHEMFILE M INI-GUIDE TO PROBLEM SOLVING

4. EVALUATE
Are the units correct?
Is the number o f significant
figures correct?
Is the answer reasonable?
Yes; units canceled to give g/L, the
correct units for gas density.
Yes; the number of significant fig
ures is correct because data were
given to three significant figures.
Yes; 11.4 g/L is a reasonable density
for a heavy gas compressed to
3 atm. The calculation can be
approximated as 3 X 80/(0.08 X
270) = 3 X 1000/270 = 11.

PRACTICE

1. What is the density of silicon tetrafluoride gas

at 72C and a pressure of 144.5 kPa? ans: 5.24 g/L
2. At what temperature will nitrogen gas have a ans: 329 K or
density of 1.13 g/L at a pressure of 1.09 atm? 56C

ADDITIONAL PROBLEMS

1. Use the ideal-gas-law equation to calculate the unknown quantity in

each of the following sets of measurements.
P V n t
a. 0.0477 atm 15 200 L ? mol - 15C
b. ? kPa 0.119 mL 0.000 350 mol 0C
c. 500.0 kPa 250. mL 0.120 mol ?C
d. 19.5 atm ? 4.7 X 104 mol 300.C

2. Use the ideal-gas-law equation to calculate the unknown quantity in

each of the following sets of measurements.

P V m M t
a. 0.955 atm 3.77 L 8.23 g ? g/mol 25C
b. 105.0 kPa 50.0 mL ?g 48.02 g/mol 0C
c. 0.782 atm ?L 3.20 X 10- 3 g 2.02 g/mol - 5C
d. ? atm 2.00 L 7.19 g 159.8 g/mol 185C
e. 107.2 kPa 26.1 mL 0.414 g ? g/mol 45C

3. Determine the volume of one mole of an ideal gas at 25C and

0.915 kPa.

10 of 12
Name D a te _______ Class

CHEMFILE M INI-GUIDE TO PROBLEM SOLVING [

i 4. Calculate the unknown quantity in each of the following sets of

measurements.
P Molar mass Density t
a. 1.12 atm ? g/mol 2.40 g/L 2C
b. 7.50 atm 30.07 g/mol ? g/L 20.C
c. 97.4 kPa 104.09 g/mol 4.37 g/L ? C
d. ? atm 77.95 g/mol 6.27 g/L 66C

5. What pressure in atmospheres will 1.36 kg of N2O gas exert when it

is compressed in a 25.0 L cylinder and is stored in an outdoor shed
where the temperature can reach 59C during the summer?
6. Aluminum chloride sublimes at high temperatures. What density
will the vapor have at 225C and 0.939 atm pressure?
7. An unknown gas has a density of 0.0262 g/mL at a pressure of
0.918 atm and a temperature of 10.C. What is the molar mass of
the gas?
8. A large balloon contains 11.7 g of helium. What volume will the
helium occupy at an altitude of 10 000 m, where the atmospheric
pressure is 0.262 atm and the temperature is 50.C?
9. A student collects ethane by water displacement at a temperature of
15C (vapor pressure of water is 1.5988 kPa) and a total pressure of
100.0 kPa. The volume of the collection bottle is 245 mL. How
many moles of ethane are in the bottle?
10. A reaction yields 3.75 L of nitrogen monoxide. The volume is meas
ured at 19C and at a pressure of 1.10 atm. What mass of NO was
produced by the reaction?
11. A reaction has a theoretical yield of 8.83 g of ammonia. The reac
tion gives off 10.24 L of ammonia measured at 52C and 105.3 kPa.
What was the percent yield of the reaction?
12. An unknown gas has a density of 0.405 g/L at a pressure of
0.889 atm and a temperature of 7C. Calculate its molar mass.
13. A paper label has been lost from an old tank of compressed gas. To
help identify the unknown gas, you must calculate its molar mass. It
is known that the tank has a capacity of 90.0 L and weighs 39.2 kg
when empty. You find its current mass to be 50.5 kg. The gauge
shows a pressure of 1780 kPa when the temperature is 18C. What
is the molar mass of the gas in the cylinder?
14. What is the pressure inside a tank that has a volume of 1.20 X 103 L
and contains 12.0 kg of HCl gas at a temperature of 18C?

11 of 12
Name D a te _______ Class

CHEMFILE M INI-GUIDE TO PROBLEM SOLVING |

^ 15. What pressure in kPa is exerted at a temperature of 20.C by com

pressed neon gas that has a density of 2.70 g/L?
16. A tank with a volume of 658 mL contains 1.50 g of neon gas. The
maximum safe pressure that the tank can withstand is 4.50 X
102 kPa. At what temperature will the tank have that pressure?
17. The atmospheric pressure on Mars is about 6.75 millibars (1 bar =
100 kPa = 0.9869 atm), and the nighttime temperature can be about
75C on the same day that the daytime temperature goes up to
8C. What volume would a bag containing 1.00 g of H2 gas have
at both the daytime and nighttime temperatures?
18. What is the pressure in kPa of 3.95 mol of Cl2 gas if it is com
pressed in a cylinder with a volume of 850. mL at a temperature of
15C?
19. What volume in mL will 0.00660 mol of hydrogen gas occupy at a
pressure of 0.907 atm and a temperature of 9C?
20. What volume will 8.47 kg of sulfur dioxide gas occupy at a pressure
of 89.4 kPa and a temperature of 40.C?
21. A cylinder contains 908 g of compressed helium. It is to be used to
inflate a balloon to a final pressure of 128.3 kPa at a temperature of
2C. What will the volume of the balloon be under these conditions?
22. The density of dry air at 27C and 100.0 kPa is 1.162 g/L. Use this
information to calculate the molar mass of air (calculate as if air
were a pure substance).

12 of 12