Gas Laws Math

Question

The pressure of a gas trapped inside a 10ml test tubeis originally 1atm. When the pressure on the tube is increased to 5atm, what will be the volume of gas trapped inside the cube?

Answer 1

Hello Alyssa

 

This question is to be answered using Boyle's Law, which states that the pressure (P) of a gas varies inversely with the volume (V).

 

P ∝ 1/V

 

As the pressure is increased, the volume will decrease and vice-versa.

 

Intial Pressure (P_i) = 1 atm, Initial Volume (V_i) = 10 mL

Final pressure (P_f) = 5 atm, Final volume (V_f) = ? mL

 

Boyle's Law equation is:

 

P_i V_i = P_f V_f

 

Rearrange to solve for V_f

 

V_f = P_i V_i / P_f = 1 atm x 10 mL / 5 atm = 2 mL