Introducing two identical containers with different gasses

In summary, according to Dalton's law, when two different containers filled with two different gases at the same temperature are connected, each gas will diffuse throughout the whole volume, resulting in a lower partial pressure for each gas but the total pressure will remain the same. This means that increasing the moles of one gas will not increase the pressure of the other gas.
  • #1
wasup23
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If you have two different containers filled with two different gasses at the same temperature, would they have less pressure when connected to each other?
Dalton's law states that each of the gases behave independently when it comes to pressure as they fill the space as if they were the only gas occupying it.

So, my thought is trying to understand a concept of this in action. If I have two tanks hooked together holding the same pressure and temperature with different gasses. When I open them to each other, will the individual gasses then expand throughout the now bigger volume, and each have a lower partial pressure?

The way this is always explained seems like this would be the case. I have a very hard time believing it, and am hoping that I am hopelessly wrong and one of you out there knows how this would really work.
 
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  • #2
The containers would not have less pressure. The gases, as you say, would diffuse throughout the whole volume, in which each gas would have a partial pressure lower than their initial pressure, but the total pressure would be the same as before. For example, if two identical containers held oxygen and nitrogen at 1 atm and 298K, when they were connected and allowed to mix, the total volume would contain a mixture of oxygen and nitrogen, each with a partial pressure of 0.5 atm, and a total pressure of 1 atm.
 
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  • #3
mjc123 said:
The containers would not have less pressure. The gases, as you say, would diffuse throughout the whole volume, in which each gas would have a partial pressure lower than their initial pressure, but the total pressure would be the same as before. For example, if two identical containers held oxygen and nitrogen at 1 atm and 298K, when they were connected and allowed to mix, the total volume would contain a mixture of oxygen and nitrogen, each with a partial pressure of 0.5 atm, and a total pressure of 1 atm.
You, Sir, are a gentleman, and a scholar. Mind=BLOWN!

Follow up question, if you are up for it, does this mean that increasing the moles of gas A would not increase the pressure of gas B? Such as, if I put more oxygen in the container, the nitrogen would be unaffected in terms of compression?
 
  • #4
Well, if the oxygen was initially at 2 atm and the nitrogen at 1 atm, after mixing thepartial pressure of oxygen would be 1 atm and nitrogen 0.5 atm, total pressure 1.5 atm. So no, the partial pressure of the nitrogen would not be affected by increasing that of oxygen.
 

1. What is the purpose of introducing two identical containers with different gasses?

The purpose of introducing two identical containers with different gasses is to observe and study the behavior and properties of the two gases when they are in contact with each other. This can provide insights into the physical and chemical interactions between gases and help in understanding their properties.

2. How do you ensure that the containers are identical?

The containers can be made identical by using the same type of material, size, and shape for both containers. They should also be cleaned and sealed in the same way to eliminate any potential differences in their properties that could affect the experiment.

3. What factors can affect the behavior of the gases in the containers?

The behavior of gases in the containers can be affected by factors such as temperature, pressure, and the types of gases involved. Other factors such as the presence of impurities or the volume of the containers can also have an impact on the behavior of the gases.

4. How do you measure the properties of the gases in the containers?

The properties of the gases can be measured using various techniques such as gas chromatography, mass spectrometry, or simple gas pressure and volume measurements. The type of measurement method used will depend on the specific properties being studied.

5. What are the potential applications of studying two identical containers with different gasses?

The study of two identical containers with different gasses has various applications in fields such as chemistry, physics, and engineering. It can help in understanding the behavior of gases in different environments and can be useful in industries such as gas production, environmental monitoring, and material science.

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