Gas Laws

Temperature: The degree of hotness or coldness of a body is known as temperature.

Co-ordinates: Pressure, volume & temperature are the co-ordinates. These variables are mutually
dependent on each other.
Boyles law: At constant temperature, the pressure exerted by a
given mass of a gas is inversely proportional to its volume.
If P is pressure & v is its volume at constant temperature T,
1
or PV = Constant
P
v
In general Boyles law can be written as
P1 v1 P2 v2 P3 v3 ......Pn vn Constant
Note: 1) Boyles law holds good for any gas at high temperature
and low pressure.
2) Does not holds good for gas at low temperature and high
pressure.
Robert Boyle

Charles law: At constant pressure, the volume of a given mass of gas is proportional to its
absolute temperature.
If v is the volume, T is its temperature at constant pressure P, then
v
Constant
v T or
T
v
v
v
Generally, 1 2 ........ n Constant
T1 T2
Tn
If V0 & Vt are the volume of a gas at 0 & t then we have
Vt Vo

T To
Vt
T
but T T0 t & T0 273

Vo T0

t 273
Vt Vo
273
t

Vt Vo 1

273

Jacques charle

1 -1
k
273
is known as volume co-efficient defined as the ratio of increase in its volume per degree
Vt Vo (1 t)

centigrade rise in temperature of its volume at 0 C, maintaining pressure constant.

Gay-Lussacs law: At constant volume, the pressure of a given mass of a gas is directly
proportional to its absolute temperature.
Let P be the pressure at temperature T, constant volume V
P
P T or
Constant
T
P1
P
P
2 ......... n Constant
In general
T1
T2
Tn
5

M.N.Sharath kumar

If Po & Pt be the pressure of a gas at 0 c & t c then

Pt
T
but T = 273+t
To 273

Po To

t 273
Pt Po

273
t

Po 1

273

1 -1
k
273
Where is known as pressure co-efficient defined as the ratio of
increase in its pressure per c rise in temperature to its pressure at 0 c
at constant volume.
Absolute zero: It is that temperature at which the volume & pressure of a
gas is supposed to be zero. 273.15 c is the lowest temperature & hence
known as the absolute zero.
Kelvin scale of temperature: Gases doesnt have definite upper limit but
has a definite lower of temperature.
Consider the volume & pressure expansion of gas using equation
Lord Kelvin
& Pt po (1 t)
Vt vo (1 t)
Draw a graph of volume v/s temperature & pressure v/s temperature & extend the graph in the
backward direction .

Pt Po (1 t)

Vt

Pt

V0

P0

273.15oC

toC

273.15oC

toC

It is seen from the graph that both pressure & volume ceases to zero at the same value of
temperature of 273.15 0c

.This value is taken as 0K. To convert from

c to Kelvin, formula

T(k) t( c) 273.15
o

is

Perfect gas equation: A perfect gas obeys Boyles & Charles law. Consider these laws
1
1
v
v
P
& vT
Combining these two we have
T
v
Pv T
P
Pv kT
This is known as equation of state. K is known as specific gas constant.
The value of K is same for all gases when 1mole of gas is considered. It is denoted by R
known as universal gas constant.
P

M.N.Sharath kumar

Pv
R
T
Pv = RT
This is known as perfect gas equation.
In general we can write
P1 v1 P2 v 2 P3 v3

Constant
T1
T2
T3

Universal gas constant-R: The numerical value of R can be evaluated as follows

PV = RT for one mole
One mole of an ideal gas has volume of 22.4 103 m3 normal temperature is 273k &
normal pressure of 1.01105 Nm2
5
PV 1.0110 22.4 103

We have R
T
273
1 1
R 8.314Jmol k

Isothermal process: When a system undergoes a physical change at constant temperature, the
process is known as isothermal.
Or
A process in which the changes in volume & pressure of a gas takes place at constant
temperature.
For an isothermal process
a) There must be thermal connection between system and surrounding.
b) The change should takes place very slowly.
Boyles law is satisfied by isothermal process.
i.e PV = Constant

Adiabatic process: The process in which the changes in volume &

pressure take place in complete thermal isolation with the
surroundings.
Or
A physical change in which there is no exchange of heat
takes place between system and surroundings.
The equation which represents adiabatic process is
PV Constant
Where is the ration of specific heat capacities at constant pressure to constant volume.
i.e

cp
cv

Note: 1) PV Constant
Wkt P

RT
v

2) PV Constant
RT
v
P

RT
P
Constant
P
1
T P Constant

RT
.v Constant
v
1
Tv Constant
For an adiabatic process
a) There must be no thermal contact between system & surrounding.
b) Change should takes place very rapidly.
7

M.N.Sharath kumar

Van der waals equation of state for real gases: The equation V = nRT is applicable to `n` moles of a
perfect gas but no real gas obeys perfectly. Van der waal modified the equation by applying
correction for
a) Finite size of the molecules
b) Inter-molecular attraction
The van-der waals equation of state for real gas is
a

P 2 (v b) nRT for n moles.

v

a & b are constants.

M.N.Sharath kumar