A sample of 45.1 g of methane gas (CH4(g)) has a volume of 6.20 L at a pressure of 2.90 atm. Calculate the temperature.

Question

A sample of 45.1 g of methane gas (CH4(g)) has a volume of 6.20 L at a pressure of 2.90 atm. Calculate the temperature.

Answer 1

Assuming the methane is behaving like an ideal gas, it obeys the equation of state

 

PV = nRT

 

P = pressure (given)

V = volume (given)

n = number of moles = mass of methane in grams divided by the molecular weight of methane

R = universal gas constant, which you can look up in your chemistry book

 

You have sufficient information to calculate the temperature from 

 

T = PV / (nR)

 

Be careful with units!