Question

A sample of gas has an initial volume of 14.9 L at a pressure of 1.04 atm. If the sample is compressed to a volume of 11.2 L, what will its pressure be?

A) 1.39 atm
B) 1.77 atm
C) 2.33 atm
D) 3.07 atm

Answer 1

Using Boyle's Law, the final pressure of the gas after it is compressed from 14.9 L to 11.2 L and with an initial pressure of 1.04 atm is calculated to be approximately 1.39 atm, corresponding to option A.

Step-by-step explanation:

The student's question is about determining the final pressure of a gas sample that has been compressed. According to Boyle's Law, which states that the pressure of a given mass of an inert gas is inversely proportional to its volume when the temperature remains constant (P1V1 = P2V2). Here, the given values are an initial volume (V1) of 14.9 L and an initial pressure (P1) of 1.04 atm. The gas is then compressed to a new volume (V2) of 11.2 L, and we need to find the new pressure (P2).

To solve this problem, we rearrange Boyle's Law to solve for P2:

P2 = (P1V1) / V2

Substitute the known values:

P2 = (1.04 atm * 14.9 L) / 11.2 L

P2 = 15.496 atm∕L / 11.2 L

P2 = 1.38 atm, which when rounded to two decimal places is 1.39 atm.

The answer closest to our calculation is option A) 1.39 atm.