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A 2.5 L container is filled with propane. The ambient temperature is 25°C and the

pressure in the container is about 3 atmospheres. If the temperature in the car
reaches 55°C (about 130°F), what will be the pressure in the container?

User Channel
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1 Answer

2 votes

Answer:

The pressure inside the container will be 3.3 atmospheres

Step-by-step explanation:

The relationship between the temperature and pressure of a gas occupying a fixed volume is given by Gay-Lussac's law which states that the pressure of a given amount of gas is directly proportional to its temperature on the kelvin scale when the volume is kept constant.

Mathematically, it expressed as: P₁/T₁ = P₂/T₂

where P₁ is initial pressure, T₁ is initial temperature, P₂ is final pressure, T₂ is final temperature.

The above expression shows that the ratio of the pressure and temperature is always constant.

In the given question, the gas in the can attains the temperature of its environment.

P₁ = 3 atm,

T₁ = 25 °C = (273.15 + 25) K = 298.15 K,

P₂ = ?

T₂ = (55 °C = 273.15 + 55) K = 328.15 K

Substituting the values in the equation

3/298.15 = P₂/328.15

P₂ = 3 × 328.15/298.15

P₂ = 3.3 atm

Therefore, the pressure inside the container will be 3.3 atmospheres

User Thomas Fritsch
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