A sample of helium has a volume of 325 mL and a pressure of 655 mm Hg. What will be the pressure if the helium is compressed to 125 mL?

1 Answer
Meave60
Nov 29, 2015

The pressure at #"125 mL"# will be #"1703 mmHg"#.

Explanation:

This is an example of Boyle's law, which states that the volume of a given amount of gas at constant temperature, varies inversely with the pressure. The equation is #P_1V_1=P_2V_2#

Given/Known
Pressure 1: #"655 mL Hg"#
Volume 1: #"325 mL"#
Volume 2: #125 mL"#

Unknown
Pressure 2: #P_2#

Solution
Rearrange the equation to isolate #P_2# and solve.

#P_2=(P_1V_1)/V_2#

#P_2=((655"mm Hg"xx325cancel"mL"))/(125cancel"mL")="1703 mmHg"#

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