Final answer:
According to Boyle's Law, the pressure and volume of a gas are inversely proportional. By plugging in the given values into Boyle's Law equation (P1V1 = P2V2) and solving for P2, we find that the pressure will be 0.79 atm when the volume decreases to 26 mL.
Step-by-step explanation:
To solve this problem, we can use Boyle's Law, which states that the pressure and volume of a gas are inversely proportional at constant temperature and amount of gas. Mathematically, this can be represented as P1V1 = P2V2. Using this equation, we can plug in the given values to find the final pressure.
Given:
- P1 = 0.54 atm
- V1 = 38 mL
- V2 = 26 mL
Using the formula:
(P1)(V1) = (P2)(V2)
Plugging in the given values:
(0.54 atm)(38 mL) = (P2)(26 mL)
Simplifying the equation:
20.52 atm·mL = (P2)(26 mL)
Dividing both sides of the equation by 26 mL:
P2 = 0.79 atm
Therefore, the pressure will be 0.79 atm if the volume decreases to 26 mL.