KINETIC THEORY OF GASES

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This theory states that matter is made up of small particles which are constantly in motion,
the higher the temperature, the faster they move.
Phenomena Supporting Kinetic Theory
Important terms on change of state of gases are:
(1) Evaporation: In a sample of a given substance, some particles are more energetic
than others. When such energetic particles come near a liquid surface, they can break
away from others and escape into the space above. i.e vapourize, this is evaporation.
Note: It occurs at all temperature.
(2) Boiling: This increase the rate of evaporation of liquids. For boiling to take place,
the saturated vapour pressure of the liquid must be equal to the atmospheric pressure
and bubbles of vapour form in the liquid and rise to the surface.
Boiling has a specific temperature
Note: It increases in the presence of impurities
(3) Diffusion: This is the movement of particles from a region of higher concentration
to a region of lower concentration.
Note: It is fastest in gases and slowest in solids.
(ii) Note: The lower the molecular mass, the faster is rate of diffusion of the gas e.g
H2 > CH4 > CO > CO2 [ H = 1, C = 12, O = 16]
(4) Brownian Motion
Robert Brown carried out an experiment on the movement of smoke particles, he called
this kind of motion Brownian motion. E.g. pollen grains.in the air
Other examples include sublimation, boiling, osmosis
Kinetic Theory of Gases
1. Particles of gas move randomly in straight lines.
2. They collide with one another and with the walls of the container
3. Collisions between particles of gas are perfectly elastic i.e. they collide with no
loss of energy

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 4. Forces of attraction between gas particles are negligible.
5. Volume occupied by the gas particles is negligible compared to the total volume of
the container
6. Temperature of gas particles is a measure of the average kinetic energy of the gas
particles.
Gas Laws
Gas laws are empirical statements or mathematical expression about the variations
between the properties of a gas e.g volume, pressure, temperature, mole.
(1) Boyle’s Law: It states that the volume of a fixed mass of gas is inversely
proportional to its pressure provided temperature is constant: V α 1/p [T constant]
Diagrammatically, Boyle’s law can be represented as
(i) Mathematically: V α 1/p [T constant]
V = constant K
P
PV = Constant (K)
P1V1 = P2V2 = P3V3 ….. PnVn

Graphically V
V

1/
P P
1/
V PV

P
P
Graphical representations of Boyle’s Law
Examples

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A given mass of gas occupies a volume of 300cm 3 at 900mmHg pressure. Calculate the
volume occupied by the same gas at 750mmHg if the temperature is held constant.
P is measured in mmHg OR Nm-2
V is measured in cm3
Temperature in K

Temperature conversions
OoC = 273K, - 273oC = 0K
To convert a celcius temperature OoC to a Kelvin temperature (K), add 273 to the former
i.e K = 0C + 273
Also,
oC = K – 273
all temperatures in (oC) must be converted to Kelvin e.g
100C = 10 + 273 = 283K
Solution
PV = constant [T is constant]
P1V1 = P2V2
P1 = 900mmHg, P2 = 750mmHg, V1 = 300cm3 V2 = ?
V2 = P1V1 = 900 x 300
P2 750
V2 = 360cm3

(2) Charles Law

Charles found the relationship between the volume and temperature under constant
pressure.
Charle’s law states that “the volume of a fixed mass of a gas is directly proportional to its
absolute temperature provided pressure remains constant.
Mathematically: V α T [P is constant]
V = KT
T
V1 = V2 = V3 ……….. Vn
T1 T2 T3 Tn

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 Graphically, it can be represented as

-273 0 T0C

0 T (K)

Example:
At 220C a given mass of gas occupied a volume of 250cm3. What is the volume of the
gas at standard temperature if its pressure is held constant?

V1 = V2
T1 T2
V1 = 250cm3 V2 = ?
T1 = [ 22 + 273]k = 295k
T2 = [ 0 + 273]k
Note: Standard Temperature = 273k
Standard pressure = 760mmHg
S.T.P [Standard Temperature and Pressure]
V2 = V1T2 = 250cm3 x 273K
T1 295K

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V2 = 231cm3
(3) General Gas Equation
The volume of a gas depends on both its temperature and pressure. The relationship
between the three variables is summed up in the general gas equation i.e.
V α 1/P Boyle’s Law
Vα T Charle’s Law
Then, V α 1 x T [Both]
P
-----→ PV = K
T
P1V1 = P2V2 …………… PnVn
T1 T2 Tn

Example:
The pressure of a gas that occupies a volume of 600cm3 at 870C is 900mmHg. What is
the pressure of the gas at -330C if the volume is reduced to 300cm3?
Solution:
P1 = 900mmHg
V1 = 600cm3
T1 = [87 + 273]K = 360K
T2 = ?
V2 = 300cm3
T2 = [-33 + 273]K
= 240K

P1V1 = P2V2
T1 T2
Cross multiply
P2 = P1V1T2
V2T1

= 900mmHg x 600cm3 x 240K

360K x 300cm3
P2 = 1200mmHg

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Question: A gas occupies 75dm3 at s.t.p. What volume would it occupy at 270C and
950mmHg?

(4) Avogadro’s Law: It states that “equal volumes of all gases at the same
temperature and pressure contain equal number of molecules.
Mathematically,
Vα n [P, T constant]
Examples are
(a) H2(g) + Cl2(g) ----→ 2HCl(g)
1 : 1 : 2
1 volume 1volume 2volumes
1molecule 1molecule 2molecules
OR
1molecule of hydrogen combines with 1 molecule of chlorine to give 2 molecules of
hydrogen chloride gas.
H2(g) + Cl2(g) ----→ 2HCl(g)
1cm3 1cm3 2cm3
(b) N2(g) + 3H2(g) 2NH3(g)
1 : 3 : 2
Nitrogen Hydrogen Ammonia
1 molecule of nitrogen combines with 3 molecules of hydrogen to form 2 molecules of
ammonia gas.

Question:
50cm3 of sulphur (IV) oxide were produced at s.t.p when some quantity of powdered
sulphur were burnt in excess oxygen
(i) Write the equation for the reaction
(ii) Calculate the volume of oxygen used up during the reaction
(iii) Which of the gas laws is applicable? State

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(5) Ideal Gas Equation/Law
This law is derived from the three laws earlier mentioned i.e
Boyle’s law: V α 1/p [T is constant]
Charle’s law: V α T [P is constant]
Avogadro’s law: V α n [P, T constant]

Combining the three laws

V α [1/p] (T) n
V α Tn
P
V = RTn
P
Rearrangement gives
PV = nRT. This is the ideal gas equation
Example:
The pressure exerted by a sample of a gas confined in 5.86dm 3 container at 200C is 4.1
atm. What is the number of moles of gas in the sample?
[R = 0.082dm3 atm mol-1K-1]
Solution
PV = nRT
P = 4.1atm, T = (20 + 273) = 293K, V = 5.86dm3, R = 0.082dm3 atm mol-1K-1.
4.1atm x 5.86dm3 a= 1 mol
0.082dm3mol-1K-1 x 293K

(6) Dalton’s law of partial pressure:

This law states that the total pressure of a mixture of gases is equal to the sum of the
partial pressures of the constituent gases. Mathematically,
PT = P1 + P2 + P3 --------Pn
Note: A partial pressure is the pressure a gas would exert if it alone occupied the volume
of the gas mixture.

(7) Gay Lussac’s Law of combining volumes states “When gases react, they do
so in volumes which bear a simple ratio to one another, and to the volume of the product,
if gaseous, temperature and pressure remaining constant. i.e

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2 volumes of hydrogen combine with 1 volume of oxygen to give 2 volumes of steam.
2H2(g) + O2(g) ----→ 2H2O(g) [ P, T constant]
2vol. 1vol 2vol.

Note: Whenever gases are involved in chemical reactions simple whole no relation
between their volumes are always found.
e.g.
100cm3 of hydrogen were sparked with 100cm3 of oxygen. What is the volume of the
residual gas at the end of the reaction, it temperature and pressure remain constant.
Solution:
Equation: 2H2(g) + O2(g) ----→ 2H2O(g)
Beginning 100cm3 100cm3 _

Gay law 2vol 1vol 2vols

Reaction 100cm3 50cm3 _
End of reaction _ 50cm3 100cm3
Volume of the residual gas = Total number of gas after = 50cm 3 of unused O2 and
100cm3 of steam. = (50 + 100)cm3 = 150cm3

(8) Graham’s law of diffusion:

It states that the rate of diffusion of a gas is inversely proportional to the square root of its
vapour density at constant temperature and pressure.
Mathematical expression:
r α 1 or r α 1
d m
r = cm3S-1
where r = rate of diffusion
r1 = d2
r2 d1
or r1 = M2
r2 M1

Question: If 100cm3 of O2 diffused in 4 secs and 50cm3 of gas Y diffused in 3seconds,

calculate the relative molecular mass of gas Y. O = 16.

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Solution:
Volume of O2 and gas Y are not equal, :. The formula below is used;
RO2 = MY
RY MO2
RO2 = Volume of O2 = 100 = 25
time 4
RY = Volume of Y = 50 = 16.66
time 3
MO2 = 16 x 2 = 32

MY = ?
Substitute all the above values into the formula for rate above,
25 = My square both sides
16.66 32
25 2= My
16.66 32
625 = My square both sides
277.55 32
My x 277.5 = 625 x 32
My = 625 x 32
277.5
= 72.9

(2) 200cm3 of O2 diffused through porous pot for 50secs, how long will 80cm3 of
methane CH4 take to diffuse through the same pot under the same (V.D of O = 16, CH4
= 8).
Solution:
Since the volume of O2 and CH4 are not equal and their vapour densities are given:
RO2 = dCH4
RCH4 dO2
RO2 = volume 200 = 4cm3s-1
time 50
RCH4 = Volume = 80 a

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 time tCH4

V.D of O2 = 16
V.D of CH4 = 8
Substitute
4 = 8 a -------> 4 a2 8 a
80 16 80 a 16
t t
2
4 2a 1 a -------> 80 x 1 = 16 x 2
80 X 2 t
t

6400 x 32
t2
32t2 = 6400 -------> t2 = 6400 = 200
32
t = 14.14 secs

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