The is a crucial equation in thermodynamics, linking , , , and amount of gas. It's based on assumptions about gas behavior at the molecular level, making it a powerful tool for understanding and predicting gas properties.
While the law is incredibly useful, it has limitations. Real gases deviate from ideal behavior under certain conditions. Despite this, the law finds wide application in engineering, atmospheric science, and everyday situations involving gases.
Ideal Gas Law
Ideal gas law fundamentals
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Equation describing relationship between pressure, volume, temperature, and amount of an ideal gas
Ideal gas hypothetical gas perfectly following assumptions of kinetic molecular theory (no particle volume, no intermolecular forces, elastic collisions, proportional to temperature)
Ideal gas law equation PV=nRT
P pressure (pascals or atmospheres)
V volume (cubic meters or liters)
n amount of gas (moles)
R ideal gas constant (8.314 J/mol·K or 0.08206 L·atm/mol·K)
T absolute temperature (Kelvin)
Problem-solving with ideal gas law
Rearrange ideal gas law to solve for any of four variables
Solving for pressure P=VnRT
Solving for volume V=PnRT
Solving for amount of gas n=RTPV
Solving for temperature T=nRPV
Use appropriate units for each variable when solving problems
Convert temperatures from Celsius to Kelvin by adding 273.15 (TK=TC+273.15)
Assumptions and limitations of ideal gas law
Assumptions of ideal gas law
Gas particles have negligible volume compared to container
Gas particles do not interact with each other (no attractive or repulsive forces)
Collisions between gas particles and container walls are perfectly elastic
Average kinetic energy of gas particles directly proportional to absolute temperature
Limitations of ideal gas law
Real gases deviate from ideal behavior at high pressures and low temperatures
Ideal gas law does not account for intermolecular forces or finite volume of gas particles
Accuracy of ideal gas law decreases as gas approaches condensation point (phase change from gas to liquid)
Real-world applications of ideal gas law
Calculating density of a gas under specific conditions
Density ρ=Vm=VnM, where M is molar mass of gas
Determining molar mass of an unknown gas
Molar mass M=nm=nRTPV
Analyzing behavior of gases in combustion engines (internal combustion engines) and heating/cooling systems (HVAC)
Calculating pressure change in cylinder during compression stroke of engine
Estimating altitude based on atmospheric pressure changes
Pressure decreases with increasing altitude due to decreasing weight of air column above (atmospheric pressure gradient)