# Boyle's Law Question/Problem

1. Apr 13, 2006

### thunder

Hi Everyone, first semester Physics student here and we are working on a tough lab this week, having to do with Boyle's Law...argghh!!!

Anyways, here is my problem, and trying to work through it to obtain the correct answer...but it is stumping me!!

The question as follows:

1. Suppose data was collected for a sample of 3.oo moles of the ideal gas represented by the Pressure versus Volume -1 graph below. What is the Kelvin temperature of the gas?

the graph has P (pressure) for the Y axis, and 1/V for the x axis.

The slope =45.6 atm L and is at an approximate 45 degree angle (straight line) on the graph.

Any thoughts?

I am trying to use the equation of P=nRT/V=constant/V to solve this, but am not sure where/how to start.
P=total pressure of the gas
V=Volume of the gas
n=# of moles of gas
T absolute temperature og gas in Kelvin

It is given that R=8.314 J/mol and K=0.0821 atm liter/mol K

And here is a real tough one...

2. 2.00 moles of an ideal gas at -50 degrees Celsius has a volum of 1.00 liter. What is the pressure (in atm) in the container??

I can't find the proper equation/setup for this one and am totaly lost here...these two problems are just evil!!!

2. Apr 13, 2006

### Hootenanny

Staff Emeritus
Well, you can use your equation;

$$P = \frac{nRT}{V}$$

Now consider the general equation of a straight line;

$$y =mx +c$$

$$P = nRT \cdot \frac{1}{V}$$

Regards,
-Hoot

 I've just seen your other post now thunder, welcome to PF![/Edit]

Last edited: Apr 13, 2006
3. Apr 13, 2006

### thunder

Hi Hoot, for some reason, when I click on this topic, I can't pull up your reply. just joined today so I may not be hitting the right buttons yet; Cool I see it now!! Hey thanks, hoot!! Great to be here!! :)

4. Apr 13, 2006

### Hootenanny

Staff Emeritus
For your second question, you need only apply the equation

$$pV = nRT$$

Ensure that the volume is in $m^3$ and the temperature is in kelvin. Also note that 1atm is approximately $1.01\times 10^5$ pascals.

Reagards,
-Hoot

5. Apr 13, 2006

### thunder

Ok so here is my calculation method for question #1:

Suppose data was collected for a sample of 3.00 moles of the ideal gas represented by the Pressure versus Volume -1 graph below. What is the Kelvin temperature of the gas?

the graph has P (pressure) for the Y axis, and 1/V for the x axis.

The given slope = 45.6 atm L and is at an approximate 45 degree angle (straight line) on the graph.

Using equation P=nRT x 1/V

slope = 45.6 atm = nRT

R=universal gas constant=8.3145 J/mol K

n=# of moles=3.00 moles for this problem

so, I solve for T as follows:

nRT = 45.6

(3.00)(8.3145)T=45.6

DIVIDE both sides by (3.00)(8.3145) OR (24.9435)

T= 45.6/(24.9345)

So then solving for T=1.82813157736 degrees Celsius

So my answer in Kelvin would be 1.82813157736 + 273

Which is approximately 274.8 Kelvin

Is this correct? The question is asking for me to obtain the correct Kelvin temperature of the gas.

6. Apr 13, 2006

### Hootenanny

Staff Emeritus
Not quite. As the gradient is given in atm L / mol, you need to use that form of the universal gas constant (i.e 0.0821). Also the T in the equation represents absolute temperature, so there's no need to add 273 to your answer.

Regards,
-Hoot

7. Apr 13, 2006

### thunder

Thanks!!

so for 1 liter, I get 1.0 x 10^-3 m^3

"1.0 times ten to the minus three meters cubed"

Using the equation PV=nRT

and solve for P

P={(2.00 moles)(8.314 J/mol)(-50 dgrees Celsius + 273K)/1.0 x 10^-3 m^3}

P={(2.00)(8.314)(223K)/(.001 meters cubed)

P=3708044 (what is the unit for this answer...is it millimeters or ?)

So to obtain the correct pressure (in atm), I divided my answer of 3708044 by (1 x 10^5 pascals) to get approximately 37.08044 atm or 37.1 atm??

Am I close?? LOL

8. Apr 13, 2006

### Hootenanny

Staff Emeritus
Looks right to me

Regards,
-Hoot

9. Apr 13, 2006

### thunder

LOL, oops, ok thanks. Let's see then what I need to do is as follows:

nRT=45.6 atm

replace n with 2.00 moles
repalce R with .0821 atm L/mole

and solve for T

(2.00)(.0821)T=45.6

DIVIDE (2.00)(.0821) OR (.1642) from both sides

and solve for T

T=45.6/.1642

T=277.710109622 Kelvin OR 277.7 Kelvin

Correct??

10. Apr 13, 2006

### Hootenanny

Staff Emeritus
Almost, you've used 2 moles when it should be 3, I think you've confused it with your second question

Regards,
-Hoot

11. Apr 13, 2006

### thunder

Yippeee!!!!! Thanks!!! Ok so that takes care of problem #2.

I redid problem # 1, where I am looking for the correct Kelvin temperature of the gas (see my last post above). Am I close? How'd I do? Really appreciate you helping me work thrugh this to find the problem.

12. Apr 13, 2006

### thunder

oops!! LOL

Yep, I'll correct that!! Thanks!!

13. Apr 13, 2006

### Hootenanny

Staff Emeritus
I'm talking about you re-do for question one. You've used 2 moles when it should be 3!!

14. Apr 13, 2006

### thunder

ok , gotcha...

I reworked it as follows:

nRT=45.6 atm L

n=3.00 moles
R=.0821
and solve for T

(3.00 moles)(.0821)(T)=45.6

DIVIDE both sides by (3.00)(.0821) OR (.2463)

and solve for T

T=45.6/.2463

T=185.140073082 Kelvin or approximately 185 Kelvin

So, as Regis would say, my final answer for problem # 1 is approximately 185 Kelvin.

And for problem #2, I got approximately 36.7 atm.

Whewww!!! Correct??

15. Apr 13, 2006

### Hootenanny

Staff Emeritus
They look correct to me, they're the same as what I got anyway

Well done.

Regards,
-Hoot

16. Apr 13, 2006

### thunder

Awesome!! Thanks so much for you assistance! Really appreciate it! BTW, I love that Einstein quote!!

17. Apr 13, 2006

### Hootenanny

Staff Emeritus
My pleasure