sample of oxygen, at 24 C, occupies a volume of 5.15 x 102 mL at 1.50atm pressure. What pressure must be applied to compress the gas to a volume of 1.22x10^2 mL, with no temperature change?

Answer 1

Since there is no change in the temperature, it is essentially constant from initial to final conditions. Only the pressure and volume are changing. Use Boyle's Law

P₁V₁ = P₂V₂

P₁ = 1.50 atm

V₁ = 5.15 x 10² mL

P₂ = ?

V₂ = 1.22 x 10² mL

Note that V₁ and V₂ are both listed in mL, therefore, you do not have to convert to Liters. Boyle's Law states that the pressure and volume are inversely proportional. Since the volume of the gas is decreasing from initial to final, the pressure must increase!

Rearrange the above equation to solve for P₂

P₂ = P₁V₁ / V₂ = (1.50 atm x 5.15 x 10² mL) / (1.22 x 10² mL) = 6.33 atm