CHM 101 GENERAL CHEMISTRY I (2 Units)

Lecture 3 Lecturers: Mr. Ogundele, O.D.

Mrs. Ajobiewe, O.D
STATE OF MATTER AND THE GAS LAWS
Matter is defined as anything that has mass and occupies space. Matter is everything on earth
including the universe itself. They include:
1. Things too small to be seen with our naked eyes e.g. atoms, protons, electrons, ions,
amoeba, etc
2. Things we cannot even see at all but can be detected by other means e.g. rays, gas, air, etc.
Experimental results have proved that matter contains positive and negative charges. Since
matter appear to be uncharged, it then means that matter contain equal numbers of positive
and negative charges.
State of Matter
The three physical states of matter are
a) Solid State: Here the particles are held in position by strong inter-particular (cohesion) force.
Hence solid state matter
i. have a fixed position
ii. have a definite volume and shape
iii. have only enough kinetic energy to vibrate
iv. not compressible.

b) Liquid State: Here the particles inter-particular (cohesion) forces are not as strong as in the
solid state. Hence the liquid state matter
i. does not have a fixed position
ii. have a definite volume but not a definite shape.
iii. have enough kinetic energy to vibrate and translate.
iv. not compressible.

c) Gaseous State: Here the particles are far apart and the forces of attraction between them
are very weak. Therefore, the gaseous state matter:
i. does not have a fixed position
ii. does not have a definite volume nor shape
iii. have enough kinetic energy to vibrate and translate
iv. compressible.

It should be noted that when the heat content in matter is altered, matter changes from one state to
another. Also, some matters changes from solid to gaseous state directly and vice versa without
passing through the liquid state. Such matters are said to sublime.

The Gas Laws

The Gas Laws provides the description of the ideal gas behaviour based on experimental works by
notable scientists like Boyle, Charles, Dalton and Graham.
The Kinetic Theory of Gases
The Kinetic theory of gases states that:
i. Gaseous particles are very tiny.
ii. Gases have negligible force of attractions because their molecules are far apart.
iii. Gases also have negligible volume because their molecules arc so tiny, far apart, and with
empty spaces between them, making their actual volume very little compared to their
containing vessels.
iv. The gas molecules are always in a state of random motion hence the total kinetic energy of
the entire gas molecule in a container at constant temperature and pressure is constant.
v. The pressure exerted by a gas depends on the contact collision of the gas molecules with
themselves and with the walls of the containing vessels.

Boyle's Law
Boyle's law was put forward by an Irish scientist Robert Boyle in the 1600s. It states that the volume
of a given mass of gas is inversely proportional to its pressure provided temperature remains the
same (constant). That is, as volume is increasing, the pressure will be decreasing at the rate in which
the volume is increasing and vice versa. This means if the volume is doubled, the pressure will be
halved. And the product of the two variables (i.e. volume and pressure) will always remain the same
(i.e. constant).
1
The law can be expressed mathematically as V ᾴ 𝑃
𝐾
⁘ -V=𝑃

K=VP
Where
V = Volume of the gas sample
P = Pressure exerted by tile gas sample.
K = Constant
This law can be shown to be true by confining a known volume of air in cylinder with a movable
piston. As the volume of the gas is varied, the resultant change in pressure is read and recorded. From
the results, it will be observed that as volume is halved, pressure is doubled and vice versa. And the
product of pressure and volume is always the same.
V1P1 = V2P2 = V3P3
 Table 1: Experimental Data Illustrating Boyle’s Law

e Volume Pressure Volume x Pressure

1 100.0 cm3 10.0 atm 1000 atm cm-3

2 500.0 cm3 2.00 atm 1000 atm cm-3

3 250.0 cm3 4.00 atm 1000 atm cm-3

4 125.0 cm3 8.00 atm 1000 atm cm-3

5 62.5 cm3 16.00 atm 1000 atm cm-3

Figure 1: Graph illustrating Boyle’s law (Gas pressure – Volume relationship). A plot of
Volume versus Pressure

Figure 1: Boyle‟s law experiment (a) The volume at 1 atm pressure is 1.0L (1000 cm3) (b) When
pressure is doubled to 2 atm, the volume will be halved (0.5L or 500 cm3). Tripling the pressure will
reduce the volume to one-third of the original volume
Charles Law
The relationship between gas volumes and temperature at constant pressure was put forward by a
French scientist Jacques Charles in the l700s. The law states that: The volume of a given mass of
gas is directly proportional to its absolute (Kelvin) temperature if the pressure remains the same
(constant). That is as the volume is increasing, the temperature will equally increase and vice versa.
And in every case, the value obtained by dividing the volume by the Kelvin temperature is always
the same.
The law can be expressed mathematically as V ᾴ T
⁘ V = KT
Rearranging, we get
𝑉
= K (At a constant pressure)
𝑇

Where
V = Volume of the gas sample
T = Kelvin temperature of the gas sample
K = the constant

Charle’s law 0 Kelvin (absolute zero)

The relationship between the gas volumes and temperature can be demonstrated by confining a gas
in a cylinder with a weighted piston. Here, the pressure exerted by the gas is equal to the pressure
exerted on the gas by the weighted piston which is not moving.
As the temperature is increased by heating, the gas will expand, forcing the weighted piston upward
so as to give the gas an increased volume. Also, when the temperature of the cylinder is reduced by
cooling, the gas will contract, forcing the weighted piston downward to assume a reduced gas volume
 Figure 2: Charles Experiment: At constant pressure, if temperature is doubled, the volume will
be increased to two times the original volume.

From the results of the experiment, it is observed that at every change in temperature, the volume
changed, in the same direction. That is, increased temperature gave increased volume and vice
versa. And for every trial, the value obtained by dividing volume by Kelvin temperature was
always, the same:
𝑉1 𝑉2 𝑉3
i.e. = 𝑇2 = 𝑇3 =
𝑇1

General Gas Equation

This is a mathematical statement, which combines Boyle's law and Charles law. This equation is
used by chemist to investigate what the volume of gases will be when both their temperature and
pressure are changed. It is used to solve problems in which all the three variables volume,
pressure and temperature change.
From Boyle’s law:
1
Vᾴ𝑃

Combining both laws we get:

𝑇
Vᾴ𝑃
𝑇
⁘ -V = K 𝑃 re-arranging we get:
𝑉𝑃
=K
𝑇
𝑉1𝑃1 𝑉2𝑃2 𝑉3𝑃3
⁘ = =
𝑇1 𝑇2 𝑇3

Standard Temperature and Pressure (STP)

As the volume of a sample of gas depends on the temperature and pressure, therefore for
comparing volumes of gases, a standard temperature and pressure are used. The standard
temperature is 0 °C (273K) while the standard pressure is 760 mmHg (101.3 x 10 3 pa). The
standard temperature and pressure can also be called STP
Example 1
A certain mass of gas occupies 100 cm3 at 255 mmHg. What will be its volume at 390 mmHg,
assuming no change in temperature.
Solution
The question involves only the gas volume and pressure. Therefore, Boyle’s law mathematical
expression will be used in solving the problem.
V1P1 = V2P2
Initial gas volume V1 = 100 cm3
Initial gas pressure P1 = 255 mmHg
Final gas volume V2 = unknown
Final gas pressure P2 = 390 mmHg
Make the unknown value subject of the formula
𝑉1𝑃1
= V2
𝑃2
100 cm3 𝑥 255 mmHg
V2 = 390 mmHg

V2 = 130.77cm3

Dalton's Law of Partial Pressures

Dalton's law of partial pressures states that the total pressure of a mixture (non-reacting gases) of
ideal gases is the sum of all the individual pressures of the gases only when they occupy the
same volume:
P = PA + PB + PC
Note that a mixture of gases contains two or more gases which do not: react chemically together.
Also, the partial pressure is the pressure exerted by each of the gases in the mixture. That is, the
total pressure of a mixture of 1 dm3 of oxygen at 100 mmHg and 1dm3 of nitrogen at 200 mmHg
will be 300 mmHg

Graham's Law of Diffusion

Graham's law of diffusion state that at constant temperature and pressure, the rate of diffusion of
a gas is inversely proportional to the square root of its density. Molecular masses can also be
used in terms of the density. Graham's law mathematical expression is:
R1 and R2: Initial and final rate of diffusion
d1 and d2: Initial and final densities of gases
m1 and m2: Initial and final molecular mass of gases
Example 2
What is the total pressure exerted by the mixture of l dm 3 of oxygen at 320 mmHg? 1 dm3
of nitrogen gas at 230 mmHg
Solution
According to Dalton’s law of partial pressure, the total pressure will be the sum of all the
individual partial pressures since they occupy the same volume. P = Poxygen + Pnitrogen
P = (320 + 230) mmHg = 530 mmHg
Example 3
A volume of 3 dm3 of nitrogen is mixed with a volume of 2 dm3 of oxygen, with both at the
same pressure of l01.3 mmHg. What is the partial pressure of each gas in the mixture?
Solution
Gas A (nitrogen)
V1 = 3 dm3 P1 = 101.3
V2 = 5 dm3 P2 = x

Gas A (Oxygen)
V1= 2 dm3 P1= 101.3
V2= 5 dm3 P2 = x
Example 4
A volume of nitrogen gas at 300 mmHg is 450 cm3. The gas is connected to oxygen at 400 mmHg
with a volume of 550 cm3. What is the pressure of the mixture, assuming temperature is constant?

Gas A (nitrogen)
V1 = 450 cm3 P1 = 300 mmHg
V2 = 1000 cm3 P2 = x

Gas A (Oxygen)
V1 = 550 cm3 P1 = 400 mmHg
V2 = 1000 cm3 P2 = x

Practice Questions
1. (a) What conditions are called the standard temperature and pressure (s.t.p) for
measuring gases?
(b) What is the molar volume of gases at s.t.p.?
2. The volume of a given mass of gas is 804 cm3 at temperature of 127 °C. Calculate the
temperature of the gas when its volume is reduced to 603 cm3 while the pressure remains
constant.
3. A gas sample has a volume of 210 cm3 at 37 °C and 106.6 mmHg. What would its
final temperature be if the volume is reduced to 170 cm3 and at a pressure of 76.4 mmHg
4. A gas has a volume of 120 cm3 at a pressure of 73.6 mmHg and a temperature of
30 °C. At what pressure will the gas be when its volume is halved and at a constant
temperature.
5. The maximum capacity of a container is 200 cm3. If the container has a volume of 145 cm3
at 20 oC, will an increase of temperature to 45 °C increase the volume of the container to
its maximum capacity assuming the pressure of the container is constant.
6. 600 cm3 of nitrogen gas at 300 mmHg is mixed with 400 cm3 of oxygen at 500 mmHg.
Find the partial pressures of each gas and total pressure of the mixture when the
temperature is kept constant·
7. (a) What gas law combines Boyle's Law and Charles Law?
(b) Show its mathematical derivation