Experimental Investigation of Charles and

Avogadro's Gas Laws

Valentin Uzunov (author) & Francesca Frattaroli (lab partner)
PSU ID#: 96!""#$$
%&' (()&* +ab (6!
ABSTRACT
,-o e.peri/ental proce0ures -e 0evise0 to con1ir/ the e.peri/ental pre0ictions /a0e b2
%harles +a- an0 3vo4a0ro5s +a-6 Usin4 a s2rin4e a constant a/ount o1 4as -ith coole0 an0 heate0
in or0er to observe the e.pansion an0 contractions o1 the 4as volu/e as pre0icte0 b2 %harles +a-6
,he e.peri/ental i0eal 4as constant 0erive0 -ith this /etho0 -as "6"$! at/7+8/ol79* -hich is a
!#: un0eresti/ate o1 the actual value o1 "6")(! at/7+8/ol796 ;ater 0isplace/ent b2 a <no-
/olar =uantit2 o1 4as -as use0 as a secon0 proce0ure an0 to test 3vo4a0ro5s +a-6 >esults collecte0
usin4 this /etho0 -ere unsatis1actor26 ,he 0ata collecte0 in this -a2* poorl2 0e/onstrate0 the
linear relationship bet-een 4as =uantit2 an0 volu/e* an0 -as not ver2 precise6 ,his is re1lecte0 in
the 0erive0 value 1or the i0eal 4as constant -hich -as calculate0 a "6"($ at/7+8/ol79* -hich has
): error 0i11erence6 ;ith so/e proce0ural /o0i1ications to the %harles +a- e.peri/ent* its
believe0 that /uch /ore accurate esti/ate o1 the i0eal constant can be achieve06
INTR!"CTIN
,he i0eal 4as la-* -as 1irst state0 b2 ?/ile %lape2ron in !)# an0 later /o0i1ie0 to its
conte/porar2 1or/ b2 D/itri 'en0eleev in !)$6 ,he i0eal 4as la- states:
pV = nRT @A=6 !B
-here the pro0uct o1 pressure (p) an0 volu/e (V) is proportional to the pro0uct o1 a/ount o1 4as n
(in /oles) an0 absolute te/perature (,)* b2 a constant (>)6 ,he 4as constant in the e=uation is
calle0 the i0eal 4as constant -hich relates ener42 at the in0ivi0ual particle level -ith te/perature6
,he i0eal 4as la- is /ost use1ul in appro.i/atin4 real 4as behavior un0er co//on con0itions such
as stan0ar0 te/perature (" C% or ($#6!D 9) an0 pressure (! at/) abbreviate0 as S,P6 Un0er si/ilar
con0itions to S,P* real 4as ten0 to behave appro.i/atel2 as 0escribe0 b2 the i0eal 4as la-6
,he purpose o1 this e.peri/ental investi4ation -as to 0evise e.peri/ental proce0ures -hich
coul0 be use0 to e.peri/entall2 veri12 t-o o1 the 4as properties 0escribe0 b2 the i0eal 4as la-*
in0ivi0uall2 <no- as 3vo4a0ro5s +a- @A= 6(B an0 %harles +a- @A=6 #B6
@ 3vo4a0ro5s +a- B V n @A=6 (B
@ %harles +a- B V T @A=6 #B
Eoth Avogadro's La- an0 Charles Law /a<e pre0ictions about a 4ases volu/e un0er si/ilar
con0itions to S,P * -hich are easil2 repro0uceable6 In the case o1 Avogadro's La-* the volu/e o1 a
4as is sai0 to be 0irectl2 proportional to the a/ount o1 4as (in /oles) 1or an2 4as* assu/in4 constant
pressure an0 te/perature* -hile %harles +a- 0escribes the chan4e in volu/e as te/perature varies*
assu/in4 constant pressure an0 a/ount o1 4as6 Eoth la-s are 0irectl2 proportional an0 there1or can
be /o0ele0 as si/ple linear 1unctions 1ro/ 0ata collecte06 ,hese la-s can thus be 0erive0
e.peri/entall2 un0er co//on laborator2 con0itions usin4 basic lab e=uip/ent an0 care1ull2
controlle0 proce0ures6
,o 0eter/ine volu/e as a 1unction o1 /oles ( Avogadro's La- )* a 4as o1 <no-n /olar
=uantit2 can be pro0uce0 0urin4 a 4as evolution reaction* such in a aci0F /etal reaction6 E2 usin4
<no-n =uantities o1 /etal (e46 'a4nesiu/) an0 e.cess aci0 (e46 h20rochloric aci0) @A= B a <no-n
a/ount /olar a/ount o1 h20ro4en 4as can be pro0uce an0 collecte0 usin4 -ater 0isplace/ent
proce0ure6
'4 (s) G ( &%l (a=) H '4%l
(
(a=) G &
(
(4) @>.n6 !B
;ater 0isplace/ent involves bubblin4 the 4as (-hich /ust be -ater insoluble)* into a
collection vessel li<e a 4ra0uate c2lin0er 1ro/ -hich the volu/e o1 the 4as accuratel2 0eter/ine06
,o 0e1ine volu/e as a 1unction o1 te/perature* ( %harles +a- ) a <no-n volu/e o1 4as can
be 0ra-n into into an e/pt2 s2rin4e an0 allo-e0 to reach ther/al e=uilibriu/ -ith coolin4 an0
heatin4 li=ui0 baths6 3s the 4as te/perature chan4es the volu/e insi0e the s2rin4e e.pan0s an0
contracts an0 the s2rin4e plun4er a0Iusts to the ne- volu/e o1 the 4as6 ,he 0ata collecte0 1ro/
these e.peri/ents are e.pecte0 to 2iel0 results -hich 0e/onstrate the e.pecte0 linear relationships
bet-een volu/e an0 the in0epen0ent variables bein4 teste06
E#$ERI%ENTAL $RCE!"RE
;3,A> DISP+3%A'AJ, P>K%ADU>AS ( V(n) )
,he e.peri/ental proce0ure setup involves -ei4hin4 1ine 1la<es o1 /a4nesiu/ /etal insi0e an a
Arlen/e2er 1las< o1 <no-n /ass6 3 ( hole rubber stopper -ith an open8close valve an0 a 1ree
openin4 is use0 to plu4 the top o1 reaction 1las<6 Follo-in4* a 4ra0uate0 c2lin0er 1ille0 -ith ice
-ater is place0 inverte0 ( -ithout allo-in4 an2 air bubbles to 1or/ or -ater to escape) in a lar4e
reservoir ( container )* -hich is also 1ille0 -ith ice -ater6 3 ther/o/eter is use0 to /onitor an0
/aintain the te/perature o1 the reservoir at a constant te/perature throu4hout the e.peri/ent6 Knce
the reaction an0 collection apparatus are setup @3ppen0i. EB* a s2rin4e can be use0 to 0eliver
e.cess a/ount o1 h20rochloric aci0 ( !6"" ' ) into the reaction 1las< thou4ht the open8close valve
on the rubber stopper6 ;hen the reactants /i.* &
(
4as is pro0uce0* -hich escapes throu4h the
0eliver2 rubber tube into the inverte0 4ra0uate0 c2lin0er* 0isplacin4 the -ater6 ,he reaction is 4iven
D/in to co/plete* an0 a volu/e rea0in4 o1 the pro0uce0 4as is ta<en 1ro/ the rea0in4 /ar<in4s on
the 4ra0uate c2lin0er6 %are shoul0 be ta<en to ensure that the 4ra0uate c2lin0er is o1 a suitable
volu/e to collect all the 4as pro0uce06 ,he proce0ure is then repeat -ith various a/ount o1
/a4nesiu/6
%&3>+AS +3; ALPA>I'AJ,3+ P>K%ADU>A
Usin4 a s2rin4e ( ensure s2rin4e plun4er is able to easil2 sli0e up an0 0o-n* i1 not appl2 a suitable
lubricant to the s2rin4e 4as<et be1ore startin4 the e.peri/ent ) !D/+ o1 a/bient air are 0ra-n in
an0 a nose cap is place0 over en0 o1 the s2rin4e to prevent the 4as 1ro/ escapin46 ,he s2rin4e is
then i//erse0 in a coolin4 bath so that the air insi0e the s2rin4e is sub/erse06 ,he s2rin4e is le1t
un0isturbe0 in the coolin48 heatin4 bath 1or #/in* allo-in4 the 4as -ithin the s2rin4e to reach
ther/al e=uilibriu/ -ith the surroun0in4s6 ,he coolin48heatin4 baths use0 -ere isoFpropanol* ice
-ater * tap -ater an0 boilin4 -ater* -hich o11ers a te/perature ran4e o1 aroun0 !"" C%6 3t the en0
o1 the # /ins a te/perature rea0in4 o1 the coolin48heatin4 bath is ta<en an0 the s2rin4e is ta<en out6
Ee1ore a volu/e rea0in4 is ta<en the s2rin4e plun4er is 4entl2 presse0 an0 release0* allo-in4 the
4as to sprin4 bac< to its 0esire0 restin4 volu/e*an0 then a volu/e rea0in4 is ta<en6 ,his proce0ure
is repeate0 1or each coolin48heatin4 bath usin4 the sa/e s2rin4e 1or each trial6
!ATA
Ta&le ' M >ecor0e0 0ata 1ro/ %harles +a- e.peri/ent ( V(,) )
,e/perature
(9)
Initial
Volu/e
(/+)
Final
Volu/e
(/+)
%harles +a-
Pre0iction
: Di11erence
("966 !D 9 !! F!):
($) !D !# !( G):
(9# !D !D ! G$:
##6 !D !) !$ G6:
Table M Sho-s 0ata collecte0 b2 author an0 lab partner usin4 the e.peri/ental proce0ure 0escribe0
(Pressure !6"! at/* a/bient te/per (" C%)6 %alculation sho-n in appen0i. 3
Ta&le ( F >ecor0e0 0ata 1ro/ -ater 0isplace/ent proce0ure ( V(n) )
'ass o1 '4 ( 4 )
'oles o1
&
(
1or/e0
( /ol &
(
)
,e/perature
o1 -ater
>eservoir
( 9 )
;ater Vapor
Partial
Pressure
( at/ )
Final
Volu/e
%ollecte0
( + )
&
(
Partial
Pressure
(at/)
%alculate0 >
(i0eal 4as
constant )
(at/7+8/ol79)
"6!## D6$.!"
F#
($)6!D )66! . !"
F#
"6")" !6"" "6"#!6
"6("! )6($.!"
F#
($)6!D )66! . !"
F#
"6"D$! !6"" "6"()
"6!$! $6"#.!"
F#
()#6!D !6(! . !"
F(
"6"9! "699) "6"$(
"6")D #6D".!"
F#
()D6!D !6#) . !"
F(
"6"6$( "6996 "6"6$!
Table ) Data -as collecte0 at a pressure o1 !6"! at/* an0 a/bient te/perature o1 (" C%6
%alculation sho-n in appen0i. 3

Ta&le * M Nroup Data 1or %harles +a- A.peri/ent ( V (,) )
TE%$ERAT"RE (9) +inal ,ol-me .mL/
($#6!D 9D6(
(9D6!D #)!6$
#((69D 9D6(
##66#D !"D6$
#"6!D !"
#($6!D !#"
(9#6$ !
()!6!D !6
#("6!D (D
(!"6" #"6D)
#!669D D!#6)6
#"!66D 9D6#!
(!"6)D (66D)
(9)6!D (6)6")
#!6!D #D
(96$ #(D
($6 (9"
("66 ("
($# ("
(9) ))69
(9!6!D $D6(
#"# D9
(") ##6)#
(9D #"#69
#"# $$(
("6 ##)6(D
(9 !66
($6 !6"
##$ !9$
("966 9
($) !#
(9# !D
##6 !)
Table 3 F ,able sho-s 0ata collecte0 b2 -hole class 1or %harles +a- e.peri/ent6 &i4hli4hte0
results are o/itte0 1ro/ 1inal anal2sis* because 0ata -as collecte0 -ith 0i11erent e.peri/ental
proce0ure* an0 or 0oes not 1it the vali0 value ran4es6
Ta&le 0 M ;hole class 0ata 1or 3vo4a0ro +a- e.peri/ental proce0ure ( V(n) )
'ass o1 'a4nesiu/
(/ol)
Final Nas Volu/e
(/+)
D6$ . !"F# )
#6D" . !"F# 6$6(
$6"# . !"F# 96!
D6#D . !"F !!6$
!6(" . !"F# (96D
(6#9 . !"F# $D
!6(" . !"F# #
6!! . !"F 9
#6! . !"F# 66
"69D !D
!6## 9
!6(D 6#
!6 . !"F# #$6D
669 . !"F !!
!6! . !"F# (!66
!6)" #
6)"( #$
66D6 #66D
!66D . !"F# !)
#6# . !"F# #"
666 . !"F# )#
!6(# . !"F# 66D
!6#6 . !"F# !6$
!6) . !"F# !96D
)6#( . !"F ("
969) . !"F (
!6("6 . !"F# (9
!6D6 . !"F# ((
(6(6 . !"F# DD
(6DD . !"F# $(
D6) . !"F# 6
(66 . !"F# (!6D
)6" . !"F# !!9
Table M ,able sho-s the -hole class 0ata collecte0 1or 3vo4a0ro5s +a- e.peri/ent6 Data
hi4hli4hte0 is o/itte0 1ro/ anal2sis as 0ata -as not reporte0 in a consistent 1or/at* or e.cee0s the
vali0 volu/e ran4e possible ("F!"" /+)
RES"LTS
,he 0ata collecte0 1ro/ the %harles +a- e.peri/ental proce0ure 0espite havin4 onl2 a 1e- sa/ple
points* accuratel2 0e/onstrates the e.pecte0 linear relationship pre0icte0 b2 %harles la-6 Data also
sho-s a close appro.i/ation to i0eal 4as constant o1 "6"$! at/7+8/ol79 0eter/ine0 0irectl2 1ro/
the slope o1 the tren0 line6 ,he tren0 line ho-ever incorrectl2 intersects the te/perature a.is at )66$
9 rather then the e.pecte0 " 9* -hich allu0es to possible un0eresti/ation o1 volu/e collecte06
Figure 1 - Graph shows the data collected using the experimental procedure outlined in this
report or assessing Charles Law! The data accuratel" it the expected linear relationship
predicted b" Charles Law# but underestimates the proportionalit" o the relationship
$ Trend line e%uation & $x&' (!()1*x + ,!1- $Coeicient o determination& .
/
' (!-0,
0 40 80 120 160 200 240 280 320 360
-10
-6
-2
2
6
10
14
18
Charles Law - Volume vs Temperature
Temperature ( K )
V
o
l
u
m
e

(

m
L

)
Figure / + Graph shows the data collected using water displacement as the experimental
procedure! The data collected shows a ver" wea1 linear relationship# and a poor it to the
trendline $ .
/
' (!(/# $x& ' 11-(x 2 3-!*&! .esults are inconclusive!
0.00E+00 2.00E-03 4.00E-03 6.00E-03 8.00E-03 1.00E-02
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
100
Avogadro's Law - Experimental Procedure results
Mole !a ("2)
V
o
l
u
m
e

(
m
L
)
,he 0ata collecte0 1ro/ the e.peri/ental proce0ure involvin4 the -ater 0isplace/ent /etho0
sho-s a ver2 -ea< linear relationship bet-een the 0ata* an0 are at best inconclusive6 Fro/ this 0ata
alone it -oul0 be invali0 to /a<e an2 conclusions re4ar0in4 its 0e/onstration o1 3vo4a0ro5s +a-6
,he -hole class 0ata sho-s a /ore obvious linear tren0* in0icatin4 that as the /oles o1 4as in a
sa/ple increase so 0oes its volu/e* -hich is in 0irect a4ree/ent -ith 3vo4a0ro5s +a-6 ,he lo-
coe11icient o1 0eter/ination ho-ever su44ests that the 0ata is not ver2 precise6 ,he tren0 line
shoul0 also be 4oin4 to the ori4in* su44estin4 that the overesti/ate o1 volu/es recor0e0 are 0ue to
the presence o1 other unaccounte0 4as* collecte0 0urin4 the e.peri/ent6
Figure 3 + 4ata rom the whole class shows a vague linear relationship# which is in
agreement with Avogadro's Law! 5owever the presented data onl" wea1l" its the linear
model $ $x&' 1(1,*x 2 13!1/ # .
/
' (!30 &# suggesting that it is not ver" precise!
0.00E+000 2.00E-003 4.00E-003 6.00E-003 8.00E-003
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
100
Avogadro's Law, V(n - !hole class
Mole o# !a (mol)
V
o
l
u
m
e

(
m
L
)
Figure * + 4ata does not show a clear linear trend as predicted b" Charles Law# and is not
able to show clear relationshio between temperature and volume! .
/
O "6!(* (1(.) O !6). M
!6)6
0 50 100 150 200 250 300 350 400
0
200
400
600
800
1000
1200
Charles Law, V(T - !hole class
Temperature ( K )
V
o
l
u
m
e

(

m
L

)
,he -hole class 0ata sho-s a poor linear tren0 bet-een the te/perature o1 a sa/ple o1 4as an0 its
volu/e6 ,he lo- coe11icient o1 0eter/ination value* 1urther su44ests that the results collecte0 are
not precise an0 are poorl2 /o0el the pre0icte0 linear tren06 Fro/ results it is presu/e0 that the
/etho0 -ith -hich volu/e -as 0eter/ine0 -as not accurate or robust* -hich coul0 e.plain the
lar4e sprea0 o1 0ata aroun0 the line o1 best 1it6 Niven that the tren0 line interests that .Fa.is at $96#
9* it presu/e0 that the volu/es 0eter/ine0 are lar4el2 un0eresti/ates6 ,his su44ests possible
e.peri/ental 1la-s in 4as collection an0 /easure/ent o1 4as volu/e6
!ISC"SSIN
%harles la- states the the volu/e o1 a 4as* is 0irectl2 proportional to its te/perature6 ,his /eans
that as the te/perature increases or 0ecreases the volu/e o1 4as e.pan0 an0 contract b2 a constant
a/ount6 Niven constant pressure an0 constant a/ount o1 4as this a/ount shoul0 be e=ual the i0eal
4as constant o1 "6")(! at/7+8/ol796 ,his behaviors o1 an i0eal 4as un0er laborator2 con0itions* is
e=uall2 vali0 1or 3vo4a0ro5s +a-* -hich 0escribes the proportional chan4e in 4as volu/e -ith
a/ount (in /oles) o1 4as6 ,he obIective o1 this investi4ation -as to e.peri/entall2 0evise t-o
proce0ures that coul0 be use0 to e.peri/entall2 con1ir/ %harles an0 3vo4a0ro +a-s* an0 i1
possible use the results to 0erive the i0eal 4as constant6
,he results 1ro/ the propose0 e.peri/ental proce0ure 1or %harles +a-* accuratel2 0e/onstrate0 the
pre0icte0 an0 e.pecte0 linear relationship bet-een the te/perature o1 a 4as an0 its volu/e6 Eecause
the e.peri/ent is per1or/e0 -ith a constant a/ount o1 4as* an0 un0er constant pressure
(at/ospheric) it -as also possible to 0irectl2 0eter/ine the i0eal 4as constant 1ro/ slope o1 line o1
re4ression6 ,he i0eal 4as constant -as 0eter/ine0 to be appro.i/atel2 "6"$! at/7+8/ol79 -hich
-ithin "6"") at/7+8/ol79 0ivination 1or/ the correct value6 ,he potential source o1 this error coul0
be 0ue to 1riction* cause0 b2 restriction o1 the s2rin4e plun4er 1ro/ 1reel2 a0Iustin4 -ith the chan4e
in volu/e as the te/perature chan4es6 3s it -as not possible to lubricate the 4as<et a0e=uatel2 prior
to the e.peri/ent (as outline0 in the e.peri/ental proce0ure) it see/s that this e.planation coul0 be
vali0 un0er the circu/stances6 It believe0 that -ith /ore sensitive instru/entation* a /uch close
appro.i/ation to the i0eal 4as constant can be achieve0 usin4 the proce0ure6
,he -hole class results 1or %harles la- are less conclusive* an0 1ail to sho- a clear linear tren06
,his is /ost li<el2 0ue to 0i11erence in e.peri/ental 1la-s or assu/ptions6 Eecause the
e.peri/ental proce0ures b2 the class -as not un0er constant /oles* its not possible to esti/ate the
i0eal 4as constant 1ro/ the line o1 re4ression either6 ,he lar4e sprea0 o1 the results -ithin the class
su44ests the e.peri/ent proce0ure is susceptible to errors6
,he results obtaine0 1or 3vo4a0ro5s +a- usin4 -ater 0isplace/ent* -ere also unsatis1actor26 Fro/
the 0ata collecte0 it -as possible to -or< out the i0eal 4as constant 1ro/ the i0eal 4as e=uation @A=
!B6 ,he 0ata sho-s a calculate0 value ran4e bet-een "6"#!6 at/7+8/ol79 an0 "6"6$! at/7+8/ol79
1or the i0eal 4as constant value 0erive0 6 ,he esti/ate0 i0eal 4as constant as an avera4e o1 all trial is
"6"($ at/7+8/ol79* -hich has a error percent 0i11erence o1 ):6 ,he -hole class results sho- a
/uch /ore convincin4 linear relationship bet-een volu/e an0 a/ount o1 4as* ho-ever the results
are li<el2 overesti/ates as su44este0 b2 tren0 line in 1i4ure #* li<el2 because the volu/e o1 4as
collecte0 in the collection vessel has i/purities such as -ater vapor (-hich is also 0epen0ent on the
te/perature o1 the -ater* /a4ni12in4 error at hi4her te/peratures)* as -ell as trappe0 air 1ro/ the
reaction vessel6 3n also plausible e.planation 1or the poor 0ata 1it coul0 be 0ue to proce0ural errors
such as lettin4 -ater escape -hile invertin4 the 4ra0uate0 c2lin0er 1or e.a/ple6
%3+%U+3,IKJS M 3PPAJDIL 3
%oles of 1
(
$rod-2ed
Convert mass o 6g to moles o 6g
7se moles o 6g and stoichiometric coeicients rom balanced reaction 819 to determine moles o
5
/
produced
!etermine expe2ted vol-me of 1
(

From 8.xn! 19 o 6g $ 1 : 1 molar ratio 6g to 5
/
&! .earrange ;deal gas law 8<%! 19 to solve or =
= =
n.T
p
=
5
(
=
D6$!"
#
mol "6")("6
atm> L
mol > ?
(9)6!D ?
!6"" atm
= "6!# L 5
(
@
!etermining $artial press-re of 1(
4altons Law o Aartial Aressures
p
5
(
=!6"! atm)66! x !"
#
atm =!6"" atm
Charles Law final vol-me predi2tions3
=

=
=
i
T

T
i

=

=
!D mL ("966 ?
(9# ?
$er2ent error 4 .differen2e/

data expected
expected
!""
!) !$
!$
!"" =D69 percent
Ideal Gas Constant 2al2-lations
.earrange ;deal gas law 8<%! 19 to solve or .
. =
p=
nT
. =
!6"" atm "6")" L
D6$!"
#
mol ($) ?
=
D6$ !"
#
mol 6g
! mol 5
(
! mol 6g
= D6$ !"
#
mol 5
(
"6!## g 6g
! mol 6g
(6#!g 6g
= D6$ !"
#
mol 6g
p
total
= p
5
(
@
+ p
5
(
3PPAJDIL E
DI3N>3' KF ALPA>I'AJ,3+ SA,UP
;ater Displace/ent Proce0ure setup
%harles +a- setup
""/+ bea<er containin4 coolin4 or heatin4 bath