Name: Date:

Student Exploration: Ideal Gas Law

Directions: Follow the instructions to go through the simulation. Respond to the questions and
prompts in the orange boxes.

Vocabulary: atmosphere, Avogadro’s law, Boyle’s law, Charles’s law, dependent variable, directly proportional,
Gay-Lussac’s law, ideal gas, ideal gas constant, ideal gas law, independent variable, inversely proportional,
Kelvin temperature scale, kilopascal, mole, pressure, proportionality, STP, volume

Prior Knowledge Questions (Do these BEFORE using the Gizmo.)

1. Why is it often necessary to add air to your car tires during the winter?

Wintertime require you to add air to your tires since they will cause the
pressure to drop and your tire to deflate.

2. Why do you think it might be a bad idea to throw an aerosol can into a fire?

The temperature will rise, and it might even explode like a gas.

Gizmo Warm-up
The Ideal Gas Law Gizmo shows molecules moving within a chamber fitted with
a movable piston. As the piston moves up and down, the volume of the chamber
changes. Since gases expand to fill their container, any changes in the volume of
the chamber changes the volume of the gas within.

1. Next to Dependent variable, check that Volume is selected. Using the green
slider, change the pressure. Note what happens to the temperature, volume,
and amount of gas.

What changes? volume What stays the same? The moles and the temperature.

2. Using the purple slider on the tank of gas, adjust the number of moles, or amount of gas.

What changes? volume What stays the same? the pressure and the temperature.

3. Now make Pressure the dependent variable. Use the red slider to change the temperature.

What changes? The What stays the same? The pressure and the Temperarure.
pressure

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 Activity A: Get the Gizmo ready:
● Select Volume as the dependent variable.
Volume ● Set Pressure (P) to 1.0 atm, Moles (n) to 1.0,
relationships and Temperature (T) to 100 K.

Introduction: The dependent variable changes in response to a change in the independent variable in an
experiment. Independent variables are controlled by the experimenter and are manipulated to see what effect
they might have on the dependent variable.

Question: What are some factors that affect the volume of a gas?

1. Investigate: In this Gizmo, all temperatures are measured using the Kelvin temperature scale. This scale
is based directly on molecular motion, with 0 K equal to –273 °C.

A. What do you think will happen to the speed of the molecules if a gas is heated?

It will move faster.

B. What do you think will happen to the space between molecules, and thus the volume of a gas, as it
is heated?

The volume will rise together with the distance between the molecules.

2. Analyze: Select the TABLE tab to see your data. With temperature set at 100 K, press Record. Increase
the temperature in 50 K increments, pressing Record each time.

A. What trend do you see? The volum increase

B. If the temperature of a gas is doubled, its volume will will double

C. If the temperature of a gas is halved, its volume will will be cut in half too.

If two variables are directly proportional, an increase in the independent variable will cause the
dependent variable to increase at the same rate. If the variables are inversely proportional, an
increase in the independent variable will cause the dependent variable to decrease at the same
rate.

D. Select the GRAPH tab. Choose Temperature for the x-axis. A line with a positive slope shows that
two variables are directly proportional, while a curve with a negative slope reveals that two variables
are inversely proportional.

Based on the graph, temperature and volume are positively proportional.

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3. Summarize: Charles’s law states the relationship between the temperature and volume of a gas. Based on
your observations so far, state Charles’s law in your own words.

Temperature and volume are related, thus changes in one cause changes in the other.

4. Explore: Select the TABLE tab. Note the container’s lid, which exerts pressure on the gas.

A. What do you think will happen to the volume of the gas as pressure is increased?

volume decrease

B. Gradually increase the pressure. Record data each time. How does volume change when pressure
increases? when pressure increase volume decreases.

C. What happens to the volume when the pressure doubles? its cut in half

D. Is this relationship directly or inversely proportional? inversely

5. Summarize: The relationship between pressure and volume is summarized by Boyle’s law. Based on your
observations, state Boyle’s law in your own words.

Because Volume and Pressure increases have an inverse relationship, when one rises, th other
decreases and vice versa.

6. Predict: Check that Volume is still the dependent variable. Set Moles to 0.2 mol.

A. Predict: If more gas is added to the chamber, the volume will decrease

B. Gradually introduce more gas into the chamber. Was your prediction correct? yes

7. Investigate: On the DESCRIPTION tab, change the gas to helium and then to nitrogen. Experiment with the
Gizmo, noting if the volume changes as the type of gas is changed.

A. Does the identity of the gas affect the volume of the gas? no

B. Why do you think this is so? There is no variation in the volume due to the identity.

8. Graph: Create a graph that shows the relationship between volume and number of moles.

A. Is the relationship between the amount of gas (indicated by moles) and the volume directly or
indirectly proportional? Directly proportional

B. Therefore, if the amount of gas is tripled, the volume will 3 times ‘Triple”

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9. Summarize: Avogadro’s law states the relationship between volume and the amount of gas. State
Avogadro’s law in your own words.

The amount of gas increases along with the volume.

Activity B: Get the Gizmo ready:

● Select Pressure as the dependent variable.
Pressure ● Set Volume (V) to 42.0 L, Moles (n) to 1.0, and
relationships Temperature (T) to 100 K.

Introduction: Pressure refers to the force that the gas molecules exert on the walls of their container.
Pressure always refers to force acting over a specific area: Pressure = Force/Area.

Question: What determines how much pressure a gas will exert?

1. Explore: Set the gas to Hydrogen. Observe how often the gas molecules collide with the bottom of the
chamber. Now increase the temperature and observe the number of collisions.

A. What happens to the speed of molecules as temperature increases? Increases

B. What happens to the number of collisions as temperature increases? Increases

C. What happens to the pressure as temperature increases? Increases

D. Based on your observations, why do you think the pressure increases?

The pressure rises as the temperature increases.

2. Graph: Create a graph that shows the relationship between temperature and pressure.

A. Is the relationship between the temperature and pressure directly or indirectly proportional?

Directly Propotional

B. Therefore, if the temperature is quadrupled, the pressure will quadruple

3. Summarize: The relationship between pressure and temperature (at constant volume) is given by
Gay-Lussac’s law. State Gay-Lussac’s law in your own words.

In proprption to changes in pressure, temp will also change.

4. Investigate: Select the BAR CHART tab. Make the chamber as large as possible.

A. Gradually decrease the volume. What happens to the pressure of the gas? Increases

B. What happens to the pressure when the volume is cut in half? Increase the half

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 C. What happens to the pressure when the volume is quadrupled? Decreases Quadraple.

D. How does volume affect pressure?

Inversly

5. Graph: Create a graph showing the relationship between volume and pressure.

A. Is the slope of the line positive or negative? Negatively.

B. Based on the direction of the slope, is the relationship between pressure and volume directly or
inversely proportional? Inversely

C. Which gas law summarizes this relationship? Boyle’s law

D. Why do you think making the chamber smaller leads to an increase in gas pressure?

The temp and the pressue will rise s there is less room for the gas to go.

6. Observe: Select the BAR CHART tab. Change the number of moles and observe.

A. What happens to the pressure as the amount of gas increases? Incraeses

B. What is the relationship between the number of moles and pressure?

The pressure will increase as the moles rise

7. Infer: One mole of any substance contains Avogadro’s number (6.022 × 1023) of particles.

A. Will doubling the number of moles double the number of particles? yes.

B. Why does doubling the number of moles double the pressure?

because its proportional.

8. Compare: Change the gas to nitrogen, which is heavier than hydrogen, and observe.

A. Do its molecules move faster or slower than those of hydrogen? Slower

B. Since heavier molecules exert more force each time they collide, is it likely that fewer collisions
could produce the same force? Yes

C. Observe the pressure as you change the type of gas. What can you conclude about the effect of
the type of gas on pressure? The pressure will remain the same.

9. Summarize: What are three ways to increase the pressure of a gas?

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 Increase Temp, incarse amount of gas and will decrease the volume

Activity C: Get the Gizmo ready:

The ideal gas law ● Select Volume as the dependent variable.

Introduction: So far you have explored the individual relationships between P, V, T, and n. In this activity, you
will combine all of these relationships into a single law, enabling you to see how the behavior of a gas is
affected when several different variables are changed at one time.

Question: How do volume, pressure, temperature, and amount of gas interact?

1. Analyze: Avogadro’s law states that the volume of a gas is directly proportional to the number of moles (n).
If two variables are directly proportional the symbol “∝” is used, which means “directly proportional to.”
Therefore, the relationship between volume and moles would be written as V ∝ n. This type of relationship
is known as a proportionality.

A. Volume is also directly proportional to temperature (T). Express this relationship as a proportionality,
in the following form: V ∝ T

B. Since volume is inversely proportional to pressure, volume is directly proportional to 1/P. Express
this relationship as a proportionality: V ∝ T1/P

2. Synthesize: If you know that a ∝ b and a ∝ c, then you can also say that a ∝ bc, or the product of b and
c. Take the above three proportionalities (including V ∝ n) and combine them into a single proportionality in
the form: V ∝ ? Show your work below.

V ∝ T1/P

3. Calculate: A proportionality is not the same thing as an equation, however. To convert a proportionality into
an equation it is necessary to multiply by a mathematical constant. For example, a ∝ b means that a = kb,
where k is a constant. When referring to gases, this constant is referred to as R, the ideal gas constant.

A. In the space below, rewrite the proportionality you created in question 2 so that the proportionality
symbol (∝) is changed to “=” and the right side is multiplied by R.

V ∝ T1/P x R

B. Rearrange your equation to solve for the ideal gas constant: R = PV/NT

C. You should have gotten an equation equivalent to (R = PV / nT). Pick any set of conditions in the
Gizmo you would like, and then calculate R. Show your work below.

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 P = 1.8 V= 13.2

n= 0.7 T= 410 R= 2080

D. Recalculate R using a completely different set of Gizmo conditions R=

4. Compare: The accepted value for R is 0.08206 L·atm/K·mol or 8.314 L·kPa/K·mol, depending on the unit of
pressure used. (Your answer may differ slightly due to rounding.)

How close was your calculation? No

5. Synthesize: The ideal gas law is an equation relating P, V, R, n, and T. Rewrite the formula you found in
question 3A so that P and V are on one side and R, n, and T are on the other. Show your work.

PV=NRT

6. Discover: It is important to have a baseline set of conditions to serve as a reference point. Standard
temperature and pressure (STP) is defined as 1 atmosphere (atm) or 101.325 kilopascals (kPa) of
pressure at 273 K (0 ºC). STP reflects normal atmospheric conditions at sea level.

A. Use the Gizmo to find the volume of 1 mole of gas at STP. (You will need to manually enter the
temperature.) What value did you find? 22.4

B. Choose a different gas. Does the volume change? no

7. Calculate: Use the ideal gas law (PV = nRT) to solve the following. Show work for each problem. Then use
the Gizmo to check your answer.

A. What is the volume of 0.5 moles of gas at STP?

v = 1.5

V= 1.5

B. How much pressure would 0.8 moles of a gas at 370 K exert if it occupied 17.3 L of space?

p=104.95

P= 104.95

C. How much H2 gas is necessary to exert a pressure of 1.4 atm at 430 K if occupying a volume of
15.1 L?

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 n - 0.6

n= 0.6

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