Gas Law

Gases are everywhere. Although you may not be able to see them you are surrounded by gases. Gases are in soda/pop, a hot air balloon, the tire on a bicycle and they are even in the air we breathe. There are many gases in the air we breathe. Air contains a mixture of gases including nitrogen, oxygen, argon, carbon dioxide and water vapor. Nitrogen, Oxygen, and Argon make up the greatest amount of air. Nitrogen makes up about 78% of air. Oxygen comprises approximately 21% of air. Argon constitutes 0.934%. All gases have similar physical properties. The physical properties of gases include four variables. These four variables are pressure, volume, temperature and the number of moles. These four variables can be arranged in an equation, the equation being PV=nRT. This is called the ideal gas law. One of these four variables can be figured out as long as you know the other three variables. This leads people to believe that these four variables are interdependent.

R is a proportionality constant known as the gas constant. This value is obtained by solving the ideal gas law equation for R and then entering the other values as they would be at STP. After the calculation, R would come out to be 0.0821 (atm*L)/(mol*K). Pressure should be converted to atm. The major conversion factor for pressure is that 1 atm=760 torr. At STP, pressure would equal 1 atm. Volume should be converted to liters. The major conversion factor for volume is that 1L= 1000mL. At STP, the volume would be 22.4L at one mole of an ideal gas. The temperature should be converted into Kelvin. The major conversion factor for temperature would be to add 273.15 to the temperature in degrees