Solve Thermal Physics Homework: Find Mass of Gas Leaked From Tank

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Homework Help Overview

The problem involves a steel container with an ideal gas, where the initial and final states of pressure and temperature are given. The objective is to determine the mass of gas that has leaked from the tank.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Conceptual clarification, Mathematical reasoning

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • Participants discuss the relationship between the number of particles and mass, with attempts to connect the ideal gas law to the mass of gas. There are questions about how to relate the number of particles to mass and the mass per molecule.

Discussion Status

Some participants have provided hints regarding the use of Avogadro's number and the relationship between mass and the number of particles. There is an exploration of how to express the number of particles in terms of mass, leading to further reasoning about the problem.

Contextual Notes

Participants note the constraints of the problem, including the need to relate mass to the ideal gas law without knowing the mass per molecule. There is also a mention of the urgency due to the approaching end of a holiday assignment.

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Homework Statement


A steel container contains 300g of ideal gas at a pressure of 1.35 x 106 Pa and temperature of 77oC. When the tank is checked later, the temperature is dropped to 22oC and the pressure has fallen to 8.7 x 105 Pa. How many grams of gas leaked out of the tank?


Homework Equations


PV = NkT


The Attempt at a Solution


first, converting: 77oC = 350.15K and 22oC = 295.15K

The problem is, i do not know how to link mass to the equation of PV = NkT
 
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Hint: Can you relate N - the number of particles to the mass?
 
Number of particles = Total mass / mass per molecule?

But i do not know the mass per molecule...
 
I really need an answer quick, my holidays are ending soon and this is my holiday assignment question that i only stuck with..
 
HINT 2 : Avogardro number...
 
I tried it again, closest i could get was,


PV = nRT

n = Mtotal / Mpermole = Mtotal/(mNA)

Where m = mass per molecule..
 
Hey

Assume that each particle have the mass m_0. Can you now relate the mass to the number of particles N?
Use this relations to express N in terms of m. Now you can relate the mass after m_2 to the mass before m_1 and this relation is independent of m_0 and only depends on known parameters.
Hopefully this can help you to solve the problem.
 
Ok i solved it! :D:D The crux of this problem is that, the volume before and after do not change, and i managed to equate mass/molecule.

PV = NkT, PV = (Mtotal/mo)kT

After the reaction,

P'V' = N'kT', P'V' = (M'total/mo)kT

equating mo = mo,

I get

MtotalT/V = M'totalT'/V'

So i solved for M', giving 229.36 g. So, the mass that leaked = (300 - 229.3) g = 70.6g

I forgot that V was constant, that was perplexing me throughout!
 
Good job :approve:
 

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