According to Charles's law, which of the following will occur if the temperature of a gas is decreased?

Question

1. The pressure of the gas will decrease

 

2. The pressure of the gas will increase

 

3. The mass of the gas will increase

 

4. The volume of the gas will increase 

 

5. The volume of the gas will decrease

 

My answer is the volume of the gas will decrease 

Answer 1

5. The volume of the gas will decrease

You are correct. 

Answer 2

According to Charles's law:

 

V1/T1 = V2/T2

 

If T2 < T1, then V2 < V1.  The volume will decrease if the temperature is lowered.

Answer 3

Charles's Law states that the temperature and volume of a gas are proportional. Thus V=kT or V/T is constant. The variables may be confusing, but it can help if you put numbers in there. V/T is constant, so the initial volume divided by the initial temperature is equal to the final volume divided by the final temperature. For simplicity's sake, let's assume the V initial = 1L and T initial = 1 K. Then V/T initial =1 = V/T final. If T final is 2, solve for what V final must be an compare to the value for V initial.