CEB 2032 / CDB 2052 Chemical Engineering Laboratory I

Experiment 2
Boyle’s Law

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CEB 2032 / CDB 2052 Chemical Engineering Laboratory I

INTRODUCTION

Summary of Theory
Boyle’s Law has been practised in daily life where there is a relation between the expansion and
compression of a gas at a constant temperature. Besides, it describes how the pressure of the gas
is increasing as the volume of the container is decreasing. The changes in the gas state must occur
at the constant temperature known as isothermal condition. This means that changes in pressure
must occur slow enough to allow warmth exchange with the surrounding air to keep the
temperature of the gas constant.
This precondition has been met in principle by the technical characteristic of the apparatus since
expansion and compression of the gas takes place comparatively slowly. In addition, the confining
liquid acts as a thermal regulator. Boyle’s law is strictly valid only for “ideal gases”. If noticeable
deviations from Boyle’s law appear, one speaks of “real gases” while if the deviations are large it
speaks of “vapour”.
At “everyday” amount of pressure and warmth, hydrogen and inert gases are examples that behave
like ideal gases (e.g chlorine and carbon dioxide). Example of gases similar to real gases (vapour)
are benzene and propane. The study of Boyle’s Law can be applied to syringe, spray paint and
weather balloon.

Derivation of Equation
The mathematical equation for Boyle’s law is
𝑃𝑉 = 𝑘
The product of volume and pressure of a given amount of gas is constant. P denotes the pressure
of system, V denotes the volume of the gas while k is a constant value that is representative of the
temperature of system. Boyle’s Law is used to predict the result of introducing a change in volume
and pressure only to the initial state of a fixed quantity of gas. The initial and final volumes and
pressures of the fixed amount of gas, where the initial and final temperatures are same, are related
by the equation

𝑃1 𝑉1 = 𝑃2 𝑉2

Diagrammatic representation of the law 𝑃𝑉 = 𝑘 shows a hyperbolic curve (Figure 2.1).

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Figure 2.1 P-V Diagram

If the gas’s change of state is isothermal, then the internal energy of the gas does not change. This
proportion can be clarified graphically in a P-V diagram. The product of P.V represents the
quantity of energy directly.

Figure 2.2 P-V Diagram

The constant of internal energy at every point of change in state can be demonstrated with the help
of rectangles of equal area. According to the first principle of thermodynamics, internal energy
change of a system equals net heat transfer minus net work done by the system. In equation form,
the first law of thermodynamics is ΔU = Q – W. The first law of thermodynamics is a version of
the law of conservation of energy specialized for thermodynamic systems. The law of conservation
of energy can be stated like this: The energy of an isolated system is constant. If the temperature
is held constant, the internal energy of the system also is constant. Thus, based on Figure 2.2, the
internal energy at every point is constant, proving that ΔU=0. It follows that Q = -W in this case.
In thermodynamics, the work involved when a gas changes from state A to state B is simply
𝑉𝐵
𝑊𝐴→B = ∫ 𝑃 𝑑𝑉
𝑉𝐴

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CEB 2032 / CDB 2052 Chemical Engineering Laboratory I

𝑄 = 𝐴 + ∆𝑈

Figure 2.3 P-V Diagram

Based on Figure 2.3, Q, A, and ∆U denote net heat supplied, work done by system, and change in
internal energy of the system.

Determining the Universal Gas Constant

Boyle’s Law is one of the major gas law that will be combined to obtain the ideal gas law. Ideal
gas molecules do not attract or repel with each other. The only interaction between the ideal gas
molecules would be an elastic collision with the walls of the container and each other. Besides, the
molecules of ideal gas are considered point particles that have no volume. The universal gas
constant can be determined by applying the ideal gas equation

𝑃. 𝑉 = 𝑚. 𝑅. 𝑇

For calculating the universal gas constant, kilogram molecules (kmole) are used to express the
mass of the gas rather than kilograms.

The accuracy of the calculated value is heavily dependent on the quality of temperature
measurement.

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Descriptions of Equipment Layout

Figure 2.4 shows setup of Boyle’s Law Equipment and Table 2.1 shows the descriptions of the
equipment.

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Figure 2.4: Boyle’s Law Equipment Apparatus

Table 2.1: Boyles’s Law Equipment Apparatus Descriptions

No. Descriptions
1 5 litre clear plexi cylinder
2 Bourdon Gauge
3 Hand valve for water filling and air release
4 Air heater and temperature sensor
5 Connection tubing
6 Vacuum pump
7 Vacuum and pressurize control valve

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CEB 2032 / CDB 2052 Chemical Engineering Laboratory I

Figure 2.5 Boyle’s Law Apparatus Layout

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EXPERIMENTAL PROCEDURES
General Procedures
1) Switch on the power switch on control board.
2) Switch on the heater switch on control board. Take note the temperature from the control
board.
3) Make sure that level of water in 5 litre clear pixel cylinder is same level before switch on
the motor switch. If the level of water is not same, open the hand valve to release the air
in order to avoid the air heater break down.

PART A: To observe the trend of PV gas during Pressurize Operation

1) Open and close the pressurize and the vacuum section control valve by following the figure
below.
2) Follow steps 1 – 3 in the General Procedures
3) Start the experiment with 0 bar and take the reading of gas volume at different point.
Continue the experiment until it reach 3 bar (maximum).
4) Open the hand valve to release air and repeat the experiment with different temperature
(40℃ - maximum)
5) Switch off all the switch on the control board when finish run the experiment.
6) Plot graph pressure vs volume of gas and pressure vs inverse volume

Figure 2.6 Condition of valve during pressurize operation

Gauge Pressure Absolute Pressure Volume (litre) 1/Volume PV

(bar) (bar) (1/V)

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CEB 2032 / CDB 2052 Chemical Engineering Laboratory I

PART B: To observe the trend of PV gas during Vacuum Operation

1) Open and close the pressurize and the vacuum section control valve by following the figure
below.
2) Follow steps 1 – 3 in the General Procedures
3) Start the experiment with 0 bar and take the reading of gas volume at different point.
Continue the experiment.
4) Open the hand valve to release air and repeat the experiment with different temperature
(40℃ - maximum)
5) Switch off all the switch on the control board when finish run the experiment.
6) Plot graph pressure vs volume of gas and pressure vs inverse volume

Figure 2.7 Condition of valve during pressurize operation

Gauge Pressure Absolute Pressure Volume (litre) 1/Volume PV

(bar) (bar) (1/V)

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APPENDICES

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CEB 2032 / CDB 2052 Chemical Engineering Laboratory I

APPENDIX I: SHORT REPORT FORMAT

1. The report MUST be typed using MS WORD.

2. All graphical representation MUST be tabulated using MS EXCEL.
3. Length of report: CAN BE LESS OR MORE THAN 10 pages excluding cover page and
appendices.
4. FONT : Use Times New Roman, font size 12.
5. Spacing: 1.0
6. Number each page accordingly.
7. Table and Figure Captions as below:

Figure 1 : Xxxxxx xxxx xxxxxx

Table 1 : Xxxxxx xxxx xxxxxx

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CEB 2032 / CDB 2052 Chemical Engineering Laboratory I

ITEM DESCRIPTION OF THE CONTENT

• UTP logo – top, centered.
• The experiment number and title.
• The group number.
Cover Page
• The names and ID numbers of the group members.
• The name of the lab instructor in charge.
• The date of experiment.
• Write an abstract in not more than 300 words by
Chapter 1 : Summary
highlighting the main objective of the experiment, summary of
& Objectives
experimental results and brief conclusion.
Chapter 2 :
Methodology/ • Write briefly the methodology / experimental procedures
Experimental involved.
procedures

• Any observation/s that is/are relevant during the experiment

must be mentioned.
• Should the results exceed the requirement of the 10-pages,
attach it into the ‘APPENDIX’ chapter. You, however, MUST
mention anywhere in the main body of the report that the
remaining of the results are included in the ‘APPENDIX’.
Chapter 3: Results&
• Each figure/graph must be followed by a relevant title.
Discussion
• For each result obtained, it must be supported by the relevant
description, which discusses the experimental findings with its
associated principles, highlighting
weaknesses/discrepancy/errors encountered (if any) that
deviates from theory and propose method for results
improvement.

Chapter 4: Emphasize the main findings of the experiment. The conclusion

Conclusion should answer every aspect of the experimental objectives.
Contains the list of references made in the report. (Minimum of 5
References
references. DO NOT include Wikipedia)

• Set of tables with the raw and calculated data, sample

Appendix
calculations and any additional information.

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