Question

A container of carbon dioxide gas at a pressure of 325 kPa and a temperature of -5.20 °C has a fixed volume. What is the pressure inside the container after it warms to 22.5 °C?

Answer 1

359 kPa

Explanation:

Volume remains constant, so we can use Gay-Lussac’s Law.

p₁/T₁ = p₂/T₂ Multiply both sides by T₂

p₂ = p₁ × T₂/T₁

Data:

p₁ = 325 kPa; T₁ = -5.20°C

p₂ = ?; T₂ = 22.5°C

Calculations:

(a) Convert the temperatures to kelvins

T₁ = -5.20 + 273.15

T₁ = 267.95 K

T₂ = 22.5 + 273.15

T₂ = 295.65 K

(b) Calculate the new pressure

p₂ = 325 × 295.65/267.95

p₂ = 325 × 1.105

p₂ = 359 kPa