Chemistry piston compression volume results

Question

A piston compresses a gas to 0.500 L, raising the pressure to 6.00 atm. If the gas remains at a constant temperature, what pressure would result when the volume is reduced to 0.400 L?

Answer 1

As Temperature is constant, and volume varies with pressure, the law that is obeyed by the gas here is Boyle's law.

By Boyle's Law

P₁V₁= P₂V₂ at constant Temperature, T.

here P₁ = 6.00 atm

V₁ =0.500L

P₂ =?

V₂ =0.400L

Substituting,

6.00 atm X 0.500 L = P₂ atm X 0.400 L

3.00L atm = 0.400 XP₂ L atm

P₂ = 3.00 L atm/0.400 L

P₂=7.5 atm

So to reduce the volume to 0.400L the pressure has to 7.5 atm.

Note that as the volume reduced from 0.500L to 0.400 L the pressure has to be raised from 6.00 atm to 7.5 atm.

T

Answer 2

Jacob, once again, as before, we are dealing with constant temperature so it is Boyles Law

P1V1 = P2V2

P1 = 6.00 atm

V1 = 0.500 L

P2 = ?

V2 = 0.400 L

Solving for P2 we have...

P1V1/V2 = P2

(6.00 atm)(0.500 L) / (0.400 L) = P2

P2 = 7.5 atm