What would be a real-life example of the ideal gas law?

In summary, the ideal gas law states that the pressure and volume of a gas are proportional to each other.
  • #1
Lolaamaigatti04
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2

Homework Statement


What is a real-life example of the ideal gas law?

Homework Equations


PV = nRT
(Pressure x volume = number of moles x the gas constant x temperature in Kelvin)

The Attempt at a Solution


https://www.reference.com/science/ideal-gas-law-used-everyday-life-3dacbd6ebd3b5949
Mechanics of an airbag. As airbag expands, they fill with the right kinds of gases and inflates properly and are filled with nitrogen gas. The nitrogen gas is produced by a reaction with sodium azide, this reaction causes nitrogen gas and sodium metal. While nitrogen is filling the airbag, sodium metal is reacting with potassium nitrate, and this reaction neutralizes the sodium. This helps because it makes enough gas so the airbag doesn't overfill, but does inflate (enough). As we know, the airbag protects the passenger's head in the event of a car crash.
 
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  • #2
Is there a question here?
 
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Lolaamaigatti04 said:

Homework Statement


What is a real-life example of the ideal gas law?

Homework Equations


PV = nRT
(Pressure x volume = number of moles x the gas constant x temperature in Kelvin)

The Attempt at a Solution


https://www.reference.com/science/ideal-gas-law-used-everyday-life-3dacbd6ebd3b5949
Mechanics of an airbag. As airbag expands, they fill with the right kinds of gases and inflates properly and are filled with nitrogen gas. The nitrogen gas is produced by a reaction with sodium azide, this reaction causes nitrogen gas and sodium metal. While nitrogen is filling the airbag, sodium metal is reacting with potassium nitrate, and this reaction neutralizes the sodium. This helps because it makes enough gas so the airbag doesn't overfill, but does inflate (enough). As we know, the airbag protects the passenger's head in the event of a car crash.
Hello @Lolaamaigatti04 !
:welcome:
(By the way: There's no subscript needed for the n in the ideal gas Law equation: PV = nRT .)

You appear to have quoted an excerpt from a Web site called "Reference". That's kind of a strange name for this site considering I could not find any references for the sources of the few articles I looked at there. No author listed for the one you quote nor from one other I looked at. Here's an image from the first part of the article - a part you didn't quote from.
upload_2019-1-24_15-49-23.png
 

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  • #4
Thanks for the tip! (about the subscript) Yes, that is a strange name. Also, I didn't directly quote the passage. :sorry:
 

FAQ: What would be a real-life example of the ideal gas law?

1. What is the ideal gas law?

The ideal gas law is a mathematical equation that describes the relationship between the pressure, volume, temperature, and number of moles of a gas. It is typically written as PV = nRT, where P is pressure, V is volume, n is the number of moles, R is the gas constant, and T is the temperature.

2. What are the units of measurement for each variable in the ideal gas law?

The units of measurement for pressure are typically in atmospheres (atm) or Pascals (Pa), volume is usually measured in liters (L), temperature can be in Kelvin (K) or degrees Celsius (°C), number of moles is measured in moles (mol), and the gas constant has units of L·atm/mol·K or m^3·Pa/mol·K depending on the units used for pressure and volume.

3. Can you provide a real-life example of the ideal gas law?

A real-life example of the ideal gas law can be seen in a propane tank. The propane gas inside the tank can be compressed and stored at high pressure (P), which reduces its volume (V). When the valve is opened and the gas is released, it expands and its pressure and volume change accordingly. The ideal gas law can be used to calculate the final pressure and volume of the gas inside the tank after it has been released.

4. How is the ideal gas law used in everyday life?

The ideal gas law is used in everyday life in many different ways. It is used in the production of various gases, such as in the manufacturing of oxygen cylinders for medical purposes. It is also used in the design and operation of air conditioning and refrigeration systems. Additionally, the ideal gas law is used in the production and packaging of food and beverages, as well as in the study of weather and atmospheric conditions.

5. Are there any limitations to the ideal gas law in real-life applications?

Yes, there are some limitations to the ideal gas law in real-life applications. The ideal gas law assumes that the gas particles have no volume and do not interact with each other, which is not always the case in real gases. Additionally, the ideal gas law is most accurate at low pressures and high temperatures, and can become less accurate at extreme conditions. In these cases, more complex equations, such as the Van der Waals equation, may be used to better describe the behavior of real gases.

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