Percentage change in the density of a gas

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Homework Help Overview

The discussion revolves around calculating the percentage change in the density of a gas when it is transferred to a different vessel, with considerations of temperature and volume changes involved in the process.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Assumption checking, Conceptual clarification

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • The original poster attempts to apply Boyle's law and relationships between volume, pressure, and temperature to determine the change in density. Some participants question the clarity of the problem statement regarding temperature conditions, while others explore the implications of heating the gas after transfer.

Discussion Status

Participants are actively discussing the implications of temperature changes on gas density and the constraints of the problem. There is recognition of the fixed volume of the new vessel, leading to a reevaluation of the original approach. Some guidance on the definition of change in density has also been provided.

Contextual Notes

There is ambiguity in the problem regarding the temperature of the gas after it is moved to the new vessel, which affects the interpretation of the density change. The original poster's calculations and assumptions are being scrutinized in light of this uncertainty.

patric44
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Homework Statement
a gas was at a specific vessel at T=300K, P=110KPa, when moved to another different vessel at the same temperature its pressure becomes 105KPa, if this vessel was heated to 330K find the percentage change in the density?
Relevant Equations
P1V1=P2V2, V1/T1=V2/T2
Hi all, in this question i was asked to find the percentage change in the density, my approach was as following, first i find the change in volume due to putting the gas into the other vessel as:
$$
P_{1}V_{1}=P_{2}V_{2}\;\; → \;\;V_{2}=\frac{P_{1}}{P_{2}}V_{1}
$$
now i use
$$
V_{1}/T_{1}=V_{2}/T_{2}\;\; → \;\;\frac{P_{1}}{P_{2}}V_{1}/T_{1}=V_{2}/T_{2}
$$
and using V=m/rho leads to, with m constant, i arrive at
$$
\frac{\rho_{o}-\rho_{2}}{\rho_{o}}=\frac{1}{\frac{T_{2}P_{1}}{T_{1}P_{2}}}-1=-13.22%
$$
the answer has the choices [-5.55% , -4.55% , 4%, 5%]
what I am doing wrong, can any one help
 
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Hi. The question says the gas is moved to "another different vessel at the same temperature". This is unclear.

It sounds like the temperature immediately after the move is still 300K. So the gas is heated from 300K to 330K after the move.

Will increasing the temperature of the gas in the 2nd vessel affect the gas's density?
 
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Steve4Physics said:
Hi. The question says the gas is moved to "another different vessel at the same temperature". This is unclear.

It sounds like the temperature immediately after the move is still 300K. So the gas is heated from 300K to 330K after the move.

Will increasing the temperature of the gas in the 2nd vessel affect the gas's density?
yes it was 300K then heated to 330K, yes I guess, since the increase in temperature will make the gas expand and hence lower its density
 
patric44 said:
yes it was 300K then heated to 330K, yes I guess, since the increase in temperature will make the gas expand and hence lower its density
The vessel itself doesn't expand (or its expansion is negligible).

Will increasing the temperature change the gas's volume?
 
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wait a minute, the other container has a fixed volume hence the gas has no place to expand when heated! what was I thinking :woot:, so the change in density only comes from the movment in the other vessel which I can determine by Boyle's law, thanks so much its clear now
 
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patric44 said:
$$\frac{\rho_{o}-\rho_{2}}{\rho_{o}}=..$$
By the way, a 'change' is [final value]- [initial value]. So the change in density is ##\rho_{final} - \rho_{initial}##, not the other way round.

Also, the symbol for 'kilo' is lower case 'k' (e.g. 110kPa).

(For information, where a unit is named after someone, the full unit name is given in lower case and the (first letter of) the symbol is given in upper case. E.g. K, kelvin; Hz, hertz; and you can amuse yourself by thinking of others!)
 
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