# Temperature Scales

## Key Questions

Conversion is quite trivial between the Kelvin scale and the Celsius scale.....

#### Explanation:

On the Kelvin scale, $\text{absolute zero = 0 K}$...whereas on the Celsius scale, $\text{absolute zero} = - 273.15$ ""^@C. Conversion between the Celsius scale and Fahrenheit scale is a bit more problematic..and I acknowledge that you may be a septic, and so such conversions are necessary.

For $\text{Fahrenheit to Celsius}$, subtract ${32}^{\circ}$, then multiply by $\frac{5}{9}$.

For $\text{Celsius to Fahrenheit}$, multiply by $\frac{9}{5}$, THEN ADD ${32}^{\circ}$.

It may be an idea to try to use the Celsius scale exclusively... Most USaian chemists I know would always quote a reaction temperature in Christian units even tho they might use the Fahrenheit scale for how hot/cold it was outside...

Well, what temperature scale is appropriate....?

#### Explanation:

Several experimental gas laws established the dependence between a gaseous volume and temperature. And from the development of ideas of atoms and molecules, the experimental gas laws enabled chemists and physicists to form a pretty shrewd idea about the nature of gaseous particles...and of course from these ideas the molecular nature of matter, especially with regard to gases, were developed.

Old $\text{Charles' Law}$ established the proportionality of volume and temperature....i.e. $V \propto T$...and this law proposed that there was a limit with regard to temperature...what today we would call $\text{absolute zero...}$. And thus at absolute zero, $- 273.15$ ""^@C or $0 \cdot K$ all molecular motion ceases (a simplification!), and this temperature represents the LIMIT of temperature...

Today $- 273.15$ ""^@C-=0*K...the $K$ stands for $\text{Kelvin Temperature}$, after William Thomson, later the Lord Kelvin (1824-1907)…

Most of the Gas Laws...$\text{Charles' Law}$, the $\text{Ideal Gas Law}$ specify the use of the Kelvin scale...

As a curiosity much of the gas laws owe to railway development....i.e. steam driven locomotives directly exploit gaseous pressure to provide motion...