A gas system has an initial temperature of 392 K with the volume unknown. When the temperature changes to 298 K the volume is found to be 4.77 L

Question

What was the initial volume in L rounded to the hundredths place?

Answer 1

Hello, Dylan,

We can use P1V1/T1 = P2V2/T2, where I and 2 represent initial and final conditions of pressure, temperature, and volume. Since there is no mention of pressure, we will assume it stays constant, so P1 = P2 and we can cancel P from the equation.

V1/T1 = V2/T2. We know V2, T1 and T2, so

rearrange so that we have V1 = V2*(T1/T2).

Does this equation make sense? It says that if the temperature is raised, V2 will be greater than V1. Yes, that sounds correct.

Plugging in the numbers is easy. The temperatures must be in Kelvin, and they are. I calculate V1 =4.67 L. It expands to 4.77 L when the temperature is raised and the pressure remains constant.

Bob