A helium-filled balloon has a volume of 100 L at 25°C and 900 mmHg. What volume will it have at 180 kPa and 20°C?

1 Answer
Jun 30, 2016

The combined gas law holds that (P_1V_1)/T_1=(P_2V_2)/T_2P1V1T1=P2V2T2

Explanation:

The temperatures are quoted in "degrees Kelvin"degrees Kelvin. Of course, the twist introduced is the pressure value. We know that 1*atm1atm will support a column of mercury 760*mm760mm high, and the pressure measurement here is 900*mm900mm. This is not very realistic, as no one would measure those pressures with a mercury manometer. (Why not? Well. have you ever tried to clean up a mercury spill? Putting mercury under pressure is just asking for trouble.)

Thus P_1=900*mm*Hg=(900*mm*Hg)/(760*mm*Hg*atm^1)P1=900mmHg=900mmHg760mmHgatm1 == 1.18*atm1.18atm

And P_2=180*kPa=(180*kPa)/(101.32*kPa*atm^-1)P2=180kPa=180kPa101.32kPaatm1 == 1.78*atm1.78atm

You now have consistent units, and I leave the calculation as an exercise.