Thermodynamics: Ideal Gas Law, find the temperature

AI Thread Summary
The discussion revolves around calculating the temperature of oxygen in a container using the Ideal Gas Law. The user initially miscalculates the number of moles, using 2 lbm instead of the correct value of 0.0625 lbmoles, which leads to an incorrect temperature result. Clarifications are provided regarding the molecular weight of oxygen, indicating that a lb mole of oxygen equals 32 lbm. The correct approach involves substituting the accurate number of lbmoles into the Ideal Gas Law equation. Understanding the conversion between mass and moles is crucial for solving the problem correctly.
AbbeyC172
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Homework Statement


A 3-ft^3 container is filled with 2-lbm of oxygen at a pressure of 80 psia. What is the temperature of the oxygen?

Homework Equations


pV= nRT
T= PV/nR
R= 10.7316 psia x ft^3/ lbmol x R

The Attempt at a Solution


Hi everyone! So I understand how to use the Ideal Gas Law but my answer doesn't seem right so I think I might have messed up a conversion somewhere?

T= ?
V= 3 ft^3
n= 2 lbsm
R= 10.7316 psia x ft^3/ lbmol x R
P= 80 psia

Using T= PV/nR

T= (80 psia)(3 ft^3)/(2 lbsm)(10.7316 psia x ft^3/ lbmol x R)

I was able to cancel out the psia, ft^3, lbmoles, and was left with R which I am assuming means my temperature in Rankine? After calculating the above I got:

T= 240/21.46= 11.18 R

Can anyone let me know if I did this correctly? Thank you so much in advance.
 
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n is not 2 lbs. How many lbs are there in a lb mole?
 
Thank you for reply! Lbs of what? All I found was a lb mole is 12 lbs of 12C. I’m not going to lie. Moles confuse the heck out of me.
 
AbbeyC172 said:
Thank you for reply! Lbs of what? All I found was a lb mole is 12 lbs of 12C. I’m not going to lie. Moles confuse the heck out of me.
A lb mole of oxygen has a mass of 32 lbm. (i.e., equal to its molecular weight of oxygen). So, you have 1/16 of a lb mole. Your answer is off by a factor of 32.
 
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Chestermiller said:
A lb mole of oxygen has a mass of 32 lbm. (i.e., equal to its molecular weight of oxygen). So, you have 1/16 of a lb mole. Your answer is off by a factor of 32.

Ah I get it now! So could I just put in 0.0625 in instead of the 2lbm?
 
AbbeyC172 said:
Ah I get it now! So could I just put in 0.0625 in instead of the 2lbm?
0.0625 is the number of lb moles represented by 2 lbm.
 
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