A gas at 29.4 kPa is cooled from a temperature of 75°C to a temperature of 25°C at constant volume. What is the new pressure of the gas?
To solve this we assume that the gas inside the balloon is an ideal gas. Then, we can use the ideal gas equation which is
expressed as PV = nRT. At a constant volume pressure and number of moles of the gas
the ratio of T and P is equal to some constant. At another set of condition, the constant is still the same. Calculations are as follows:
T1/P1 = T2/P2
P2 = T2 x P1 / T1
P2 = 25 x 29.4 / 75
P2 = 9.8 kPa
Answer : The new pressure of gas will be, 25.176 kPa
Solution :
Gay-Lussac's Law : It is defined as the pressure of the gas is directly proportional to the temperature of the gas at constant volume and number of moles.
\(P\propto T\)
or,
\(\frac{P_1}{T_1}=\frac{P_2}{T_2}\)
where,
\(P_1\) = initial pressure of gas = 29.4 kPa
\(P_2\) = final pressure of gas = ?
\(T_1\) = initial temperature of gas = \(75^oC=273+75=348K\)
\(T_2\) = final temperature of gas = \(25^oC=273+25=298K\)
Now put all the given values in the above equation, we get the final pressure of gas.
\(\frac{29.4kPa}{348K}=\frac{P_2}{298K}\)
\(P_2=25.176kPa\)
Therefore, the new pressure of gas will be, 25.176 kPa