The Basic Gas Laws and the Combined Gas Law

If the number of gas particles does not change, the pressure, volume and temperature will always combine to form a constant.  Because of this, the pressure times the volume and divided by the Kelvin temperature always be equal.  1 represents the initial conditions and 2 is the final conditions.

This is called the Combined Gas Law

By holding one of the three conditions constant, we can look at the relationship between any 2 of the variables.

Boyle's Law stated that if temperature is held constant, the pressure and volume for a sample of gas will be inversely proportional.  In other words, if the kinetic energy of a system is held constant, the force applied by its particles will be inversely proportional to the size of the container.  If the particles are moving at the same speed and the volume is decreased, the particles will hit the walls more often and apply more force.  If the volume is increased, the pressure will decrease.

Charles' Law states that if pressure is held constant, the volume and temperature will be directly proportional.  In other words, if the force applied by the particles on the walls of their container is constant, changes in the space occupied by the gas and their average kinetic energy must be directly proportional.  If you increase the temperature of a sample of gas, the particles will move faster.  To maintain a constant pressure (force on the walls), the container must get bigger.

Gay-Lussac's Law states that if the volume is held constant, the pressure and temperature must be directly proportional.  In other words, if the amount of space is constant (the container can't get bigger or smaller), if the particles move faster (temperature increases) they will have to collide with the walls of their container more, therefore more force.

Calculations:

1. Label all given information. (P, T or V and 1 or 2)
   Remember it really doesn't matter what you label 1 or 2, but it IS IMPORTANT that you keep the SET of conditions together.
2. Choose the correct formula and solve for the unknown algebraically.
3. Substitute in the given information using both the value and UNIT.  Be careful to substitute the correct values 1 and 2 and to cancel the units.  You may need to use a conversion to make the units cancel.
4. Don't forget that STP means Standard Temperature and Pressure.  These are a set of conditions!
5. Don't forget that temperature must ALWAYS be in Kelvin.
   To convert Celsius to Kelvin, add 273.  To return to Celsius from Kelvin, subtract 273.