*Gas Laws*
Physical Characteristics of GasesPhysical Characteristics Typical Units
Volume, V liters (L)
Pressure, P atmosphere
(1 atm = 1.015x105 N/m2)
Temperature, T Kelvin (K)
Number of atoms ormolecules, n
mole (1 mol = 6.022x1023
atoms or molecules)
Pressure and volumeare inversely related atconstant temperature.
PV = K
As one goes up, the othergoes down.
P1V1 = P2V2
Boyle’s Law
“Father of Modern Chemistry”Robert Boyle
Chemist & Natural PhilosopherListmore, Ireland
January 25, 1627 – December 30, 1690
Volume of a gas variesdirectly with the absolutetemperature at constantpressure.
V = KT
V1 / T1 = V2 / T2
Charles’ Law
Jacques-Alexandre CharlesMathematician, Physicist, Inventor
Beaugency, FranceNovember 12, 1746 – April 7, 1823
At constant temperatureand pressure, the volume ofa gas is directly related tothe number of moles.
V = K n
V1 / n1 = V2 / n2
Avogadro’s Law
Amedeo AvogadroPhysicist
Turin, ItalyAugust 9, 1776 – July 9, 1856
At constant volume,pressure and absolutetemperature aredirectly related.
P = k T
P1 / T1 = P2 / T2
Gay-Lussac Law
Joseph-Louis Gay-LussacExperimentalistLimoges, France
December 6, 1778 – May 9, 1850
The total pressure in a containeris the sum of the pressure eachgas would exert if it were alone
in the container.
The total pressure is the sum ofthe partial pressures.
PTotal = P1 + P2 + P3 + P4 + P5 ...
(For each gas P = nRT/V)
Dalton’s Law
John DaltonChemist & Physicist
Eaglesfield, Cumberland, EnglandSeptember 6, 1766 – July 27, 1844