Question

A container with a volume of `16 L` contains a gas with a temperature of `320^o K`. If the temperature of the gas changes to `350 ^o K` without any change in pressure, what must the container's new volume be?

Answer 1

`V=17.5"L"`

Explanation:

The ideal gas law gives:

`(P_1V_1)/T_1=(P_2V_2)/T_2`

Which for constant pressure becomes:

`V_1/T_1=V_2/T_2`

We can solve for `V_2`, the container's final volume:

`V_2=(V_1T_2)/T_1`

We are given that:

• `V_1=16"L"`
• `T_1=320"K"`
• `T_2=350"K"`

Substituting these values into the equation above,

`V_2=(16*350)/(320)`

`=17.5"L"`

Or, `V_2~~18"L"` depending on how your teacher feels about significant figures...