Objective

At the end of this lesson, you should be able to describe the relationship between pressure and
volume of a gas at constant temperature and number of moles.

Gas Laws are mathematical relationships of macroscopic properties such as pressure, volume, and
temperature. In this lesson, you will learn one of the gas laws called Boyle's law.

What is the relationship between pressure and volume according to Boyle's law?

Learn about it!

Boyle's law states that the pressure and volume of a given mass of confined gas are inversely
proportional, given that the temperature of the system is held constant. This law was formulated by
Robert Boyle in 1662.

Boyle's Law can be mathematically expressed as:

PV=constant

If you are going to observe the changes in pressure and volume of a gas, it will be helpful to use two
points, initial and final. Thus, you can rewrite the equation as:

P1V1=P2V2

where:

P1 = initial pressure

P2 = final pressure

V1 = initial volume

V2 = final volume

Example
A cylinder contains 0.80 L of nitrogen gas at a pressure of 1.2 atmosphere. A piston slowly
compresses the gas to a pressure of 6.0 atm. The temperature of the gas remains constant.

What is the final volume of the gas?

How can the formula be used?

Step 1: Identify what is asked in the problem.
final volume of the nitrogen gas, V2

Step 2: Write down the given in the problem.

P1 = 1.2 atm

P2 = 6.0 atm

V1 = 0.80 L

Step 3: Use the equation to find the unknown quantity.

P1V1=P2V2

V2=P1V1P2

V2=(1.2atm)(0.80L)(6.0atm)

Step 4: Find the answer.

V2=0.16L

Try it!
A certain gas has a volume of 6.0 L and a pressure of 2.0 atm. What would be the final pressure if
the volume becomes 8.0 L?

Try it! Solution

Step 1: Identify what is asked in the problem.

final pressure of the gas, P2

Step 2: Write down the given in the problem.

P1 = 2.0 atm

V1 = 6.0 L

V2 = 8.0 L

Step 3: Use the equation to find the unknown quantity.

P1V1=P2V2

P2=P1V1V2
P2=(2.0atm)(6.0L)(8.0L)

Step 4: Find the answer.

P2=1.5atm

Tips
In solving for unknown quantities, remember to:

 check the consistency of units; and

 isolate the unknown quantity on one side of the equation before substituting the given.

What do you think?

If you are going to plot a pressure vs. volume graph, how would it look like?

Key Points
 Boyle's law states that the pressure and volume of a given mass of confined gas are
inversely proportional, given that the temperature of the system is held constant.
 Boyle's Law can be mathematically expressed as:P1V1=P2V2

Objective
At the end of this lesson, you should be able to describe the relationship between the volume and
the temperature of a gas at constant pressure and number of moles.

What is the relationship between pressure and temperature according to Charles's law?

Learn about it!

Charles's law states that the temperature and volume of a given mass of confined gas are directly
proportional, given that the pressure of the system is held constant. This law was formulated by
Jacques Charles in the 1780s.

Mathematically, it can be expressed as:

VT=constant

It would be useful to look into the initial and final characteristics of gases. In terms of volume and
temperature,

V1T1=V2T2
where:

T1 = initial temperature

T2 = final temperature

V1 = initial volume

V2 = final volume

Example
3.0 g of nitrogen gas with a volume of 34.0 m3 has a temperature of 345.16 K.

What is the volume of the gas when its temperature decreases to 303.75 K?

How the formula can be used

Step 1: Identify what is asked in the problem.

final volume of the nitrogen gas, V2

Step 2: Write down the given in the problem.

T1 = 345.16 K

T2 = 303.75 K

V1 = 34.0 m3

Step 3: Use the equation to find the unknown quantity.

V1T1=V2T2

V2=(34.0m3)(303.75K)(345.15K)

Step 4: Find the answer.

V2=29.9m3

Try it!
A sample of oxygen occupies a volume of 160 m3 at 273.15 K. What will be the volume of oxygen
when the temperature increases to 350 K?
Try it! Solution
Step 1: Identify what is asked in the problem.

final volume of the nitrogen gas, V2

Step 2: Write down the given in the problem.

T1 = 273.15 K

T2 = 350 K

V1 = 160 m3

Step 3: Use the equation to find the unknown quantity.

V1T1=V2T2

V2=(160m3)(350K)(273.15K)

Step 4: Find the answer.

V2=205m3

Tips
In solving for unknown quantities, remember to:

 make sure the temperature is in Kelvin;

 check the consistency of units; and
 isolate the unknown quantity on one side of the equation before substituting the given.

What do you think?

If you are going to plot a volume vs. temperature graph, how would it look like?

Key Points
 Charles's law states that the temperature and volume of a given mass of confined gas are
directly proportional, given that the pressure of the system is held constant.
 Charles's Law can be mathematically expressed as: V1T1=V2T2
Here are the notes provided by Professor Malou Cervania in the conduct of the
laboratory activity about Charles' Law:

Note 1: (Charles' Law) We agreed that to justify the used of the formula V=4/3(pi) r^3,
the Balloon must be spherical (or at least near spherical)

Note 2: (Charles' Law) that the balloon must be submerged (by any means), to justify the
assumption that the temperature of the water is the same as the temperature of the gas
inside the balloon.
Note 3: (Charles'Law) the data from the activity will lead the students the concept that
indeed, as the temperature increases, the volume also increase; and vice versa. However,
with this kind of activity (with lots of possible sources of error) it will be near impossible
to get a straight line, when you plot the results in a graph. Thus, give our students a set of
data (that will show a constant k=V/T) for graphing.