AP Chemistry : Ideal Gas Law

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for AP Chemistry

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Example Questions

Example Question #25 : Gases

What is the final pressure of a gas initially has a pressure of 10 atm at 50 L if the volume s now 25 L?

Possible Answers:

10 atm

25 atm

50 atm

20 atm

5 atm

Correct answer:

20 atm

Explanation:

Use P1V1 = P2V2

P1 = 10atm; V1 = 50L

P2 = X; V2 = 25L

(10atm)(50L) = (x)(25L)

500 = 25x

x = 20

Example Question #1 : Ideal Gas Law

A sample of ideal gas is heated in a 2L vessel at a temperature of 320 Kelvin. The pressure in the vessel is 2.5atm. What is the new pressure in the vessel if the volume is halved and the temperature is reduced to 250 Kelvin?

Possible Answers:

\(\displaystyle \small 5atm\)

\(\displaystyle \small 6.4atm\)

\(\displaystyle \small 3.9atm\)

\(\displaystyle \small 0.98atm\)

Correct answer:

\(\displaystyle \small 3.9atm\)

Explanation:

Since the gas is ideal, we can use a variation of the ideal gas law in order to find the unknown final pressure.

\(\displaystyle PV=nRT\)

Since we know that the number of moles is constant between both vessels (and R is a constant as well), we can simply compare the three factors being manipulated between the two vessels: pressure, volume, and temperature. Using a combination of Boyle's law and Charles's law, we can compare the two vessels to one another using the following equation.

\(\displaystyle \small \frac{P_{1}V_{1}}{T_{1}} = \frac{P_{2}T_{2}}{V_{2}}\)

Use the given values to solve for the final pressure.

\(\displaystyle \small \frac{(2.5atm)(2L)}{320K} = \frac{P_{2}(1L)}{250K}\)

\(\displaystyle \small P_{2} = 3.9atm\)

 

Example Question #131 : Solutions And States Of Matter

An ideal gas takes up 60L at 2 atm. If the gas is compressed to 30L, what will the new pressure be?

Possible Answers:

\(\displaystyle 1atm\)

\(\displaystyle 4atm\)

\(\displaystyle 2atm\)

\(\displaystyle 0.5atm\)

\(\displaystyle 6atm\)

Correct answer:

\(\displaystyle 4atm\)

Explanation:

Ideal gas law (modified)

P1V1 = P2V2

P1 = 2 atm; V1 = 60L; P2 = ?; V2 = 30L

(2)(60) = (X)(30)

P2 = 4 atm

Example Question #2 : Ideal Gas Law

Ammonia is created according to the balanced equation below.

\(\displaystyle 3H_{2} + N_{2} \rightarrow 2NH_{3}\)

The reaction is allowed to take place in a rigid container. Eight moles of hydrogen gas are mixed with two moles of nitrogen gas. The initial pressure exerted on the container is 5atm.

Assuming the reaction runs to completion, what will the pressure exerted on the vessel be after the reaction takes place?

Possible Answers:

\(\displaystyle 4atm\)

\(\displaystyle 3atm\)

\(\displaystyle 5atm\)

\(\displaystyle 0.5atm\)

\(\displaystyle 6atm\)

Correct answer:

\(\displaystyle 3atm\)

Explanation:

Since the total pressure is dependent on the number of moles in the container, we can use the ratio of moles before and after the reaction to determine the final pressure in the container. There are initially ten moles of gas in the container, eight moles of hydrogen and two moles of nitrogen.

The next step is to determine how many moles of ammonia are created in the reaction, and if there is any excess reactant left over after the reaction. Since there is a 1:3 ratio for hydrogen gas to nitrogen gas, only six of the moles of hydrogen gas will be used in order to react will all two moles of the nitrogen gas.

\(\displaystyle 2mol\ N_2*\frac{3mol\ H_2}{1mol\ N_2}=6mol\ H_2\)

This leaves two moles of excess hydrogen gas. Using stoichiometry and the molar ratios, we determine that four moles of ammonia are created in the reaction that comsumes two moles of nitrogen.

\(\displaystyle 2mol\ N_2*\frac{2mol\ NH_3}{1mol\ N_2}=4mol\ NH_3\)

Four moles of ammonia, plus the two remaining moles of hydrogen gas, results in six moles of total gas after the reaction has run to completion.

Six moles is 60% of the inital moles in the container, so the final pressure will be 60% of the initial pressure. We can solve using the ideal gas law.

\(\displaystyle \frac{P_1V_1}{n_1T_1}=\frac{P_1V_1}{n_1T_1}\rightarrow \frac{P_1}{n_1}=\frac{P_2}{n_2}\)

\(\displaystyle \frac{5atm}{10mol}=\frac{P_2}{6mol}\)

\(\displaystyle P_2=3atm\)

Example Question #2 : Ideal Gas Law

How many moles of Oxygen gas are present at a volume of 10 L at 1 atm and 25o C? (MW Oxygen gas = 32 g/mol)

Possible Answers:

14 mol

0.041 mol

4 mol

2.5 mol

0.41 mol

Correct answer:

0.41 mol

Explanation:

use PV = nRT

n = PV/ RT

P = 1 atm; V = 10 L; R = 0.0821 Latm/molK; T = 298 K (MUST switch temperature to K)

n = moles of gas

n = (1atm)(10L)/(0.0821Latm/molK)(298K)

n= 0.41 mol

Example Question #30 : Gases

How many moles will a gas that is behaving ideally be if it takes up 2L at 4atm at 37o C?

Possible Answers:

3.18 mol

0.379 mol

2.63 mol

0.6 mol

0.314 mol

Correct answer:

0.314 mol

Explanation:

Use PV = nRT

n = PV/RT

= (2L)(4atm) / (0.0821 Latm/molK)(310 K) <-- must change T into K

= 8/25.451

= 0.314 mol

Example Question #2 : Ideal Gas Law

If the pressure of a sample of one mole of an ideal gas is increased from 2atm to 3atm at a constant volume, and the initial temperature was 20˚C, what is the final temperature of the sample?

Possible Answers:

303K

30K

439.5K

195.3K

Correct answer:

439.5K

Explanation:

Because the mass and volume of the sample of the ideal gas are kept constant, a change in pressure causes only a direct change in the temperature. This can be derived from the following ideal gas equation:\(\displaystyle PV=nRT\).

\(\displaystyle \frac{T_{2}}{T_{1}}=\frac{P_{2}}{P_{1}}\)

\(\displaystyle 20^oC+273=293K\)

 

\(\displaystyle \frac{T_{final}}{293 K}=\frac{3 atm}{2 atm}\)

\(\displaystyle T_{final}=439.5 K\)

Example Question #3 : Ideal Gas Law

How many moles of carbon dioxide occupy a space of 16 liters at a pressure of 760torr and a temperature of 250K?

\(\displaystyle \small R=0.0821\frac{Latm}{molK}\)

Possible Answers:

\(\displaystyle 0.78mol\)

\(\displaystyle 22.4mol\)

\(\displaystyle 593mol\)

\(\displaystyle 6.02mol\)

\(\displaystyle 16.0mol\)

Correct answer:

\(\displaystyle 0.78mol\)

Explanation:

We can calculate the number of moles using the ideal gas law:

\(\displaystyle \textup{\textit{PV=nRT}}\) 

Units always have to be in SI units: atm, liters, kelvin, etc. For this question, we have SI units for everything except for the pressure, which is given in torr, rather than atm.

\(\displaystyle 760torr * \frac{1atm}{760torr} = 1atm\)
Now that we have the proper units, we can use our given values for pressure, temperature, and volume to find the moles of gas present.

\(\displaystyle (1atm)(16L)=n(0.0821\frac{Latm}{molK})(250K)\)

\(\displaystyle n=\frac{(1atm)(16L)}{(0.0821\frac{Latm}{molK})(250K)}\)

\(\displaystyle n=0.78mol\)

Example Question #1 : Ideal Gas Law

A 2mol sample of an ideal gas with a volume of 3L and temperature of 298K experiences a decrease in pressure of 4atm. If the mass and temperature remain constant, what is the final volume?

\(\displaystyle R=0.0821\frac{atm*L}{mol*k}\)

Possible Answers:

\(\displaystyle 3.82L\)

\(\displaystyle 2.56L\)

\(\displaystyle 2.11L\)

\(\displaystyle 3.74L\)

\(\displaystyle 3.97L\)

Correct answer:

\(\displaystyle 3.97L\)

Explanation:

First, one must find the initial pressure by plugging the initial conditions into the ideal gas equation.

\(\displaystyle PV=nRT\)

\(\displaystyle P_{initial}(3L)=(2mol)(0.0821\frac{atm*L}{mol*K} )(298K)\)

\(\displaystyle P_{initial}=16.31 atm\)

Decreasing this by 4 atm leads to a final pressure of 12.31atm, which one can plug into the ideal gas equation to find the final volume.

\(\displaystyle P_{initial}-4atm=P_{final}=16.31atm-4atm=12.31atm\)

\(\displaystyle (12.31 atm)(V_{final})=(2mol)(0.0821\frac{atm*L}{mol*K} )(298K)\)

\(\displaystyle V_{final}=3.97 L\)

Because only the pressure and volume change, one can also use Boyle's law after finding the initial and final pressure values.

\(\displaystyle P_{1}V_{1}=P_{2}V_{2}\)

Example Question #4 : Ideal Gas Law

A sample of chlorine gas fills a vessel at a temperature of \(\displaystyle \small 37^oC\). The vessel has a volume of 3L and experiences a pressure of 3atm. What is the mass of the chlorine gas in the vessel?

\(\displaystyle \small R=0.08206\frac{L*atm}{mol*K}\)

Possible Answers:

\(\displaystyle \small 210.2g\)

\(\displaystyle \small 105.1g\)

\(\displaystyle \small 25.1g\)

\(\displaystyle \small 12.5g\)

Correct answer:

\(\displaystyle \small 25.1g\)

Explanation:

This problem requires us to substitute the moles of gas in the ideal gas law to mass over molar mass.

\(\displaystyle PV=nRT\)

\(\displaystyle n=\frac{mass}{molar\ mass}=\frac{m}M{}\)

We can then isolate for the mass of chlorine gas in the vessel.

\(\displaystyle \small PV = \frac{mRT}{M}\)

\(\displaystyle \small \frac{PVM}{RT} = m\)

Chlorine is diatomic, so its molecular weight will be twice the atomic mass.

\(\displaystyle M=2(35.5\frac{g}{mol})=71\frac{g}{mol}\)

The temperature must be expressed in Kelvin.

\(\displaystyle ^oC+273=K\rightarrow 37^oC+273=310K\)

Using these values, we can solve for the mass of chlorine gas in the vessel.

\(\displaystyle \small m = \frac{(3atm)(3L)(71\frac{g}{mol})}{(0.08206)(310K)} = 25.1g\)

 

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