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Ch 18: Thermal Properties of Matter
Chapter 18, Problem 18

A large cylindrical tank contains 0.750 m^3 of nitrogen gas at 27°C and 7.50 * 10^3 Pa (absolute pressure). The tank has a tight-fitting piston that allows the volume to be changed. What will be the pressure if the volume is decreased to 0.410 m^3 and the temperature is increased to 157°C?

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1
Identify the initial conditions and final conditions. Initial conditions: Volume (V1) = 0.750 m^3, Temperature (T1) = 27°C, Pressure (P1) = 7.50 * 10^3 Pa. Final conditions: Volume (V2) = 0.410 m^3, Temperature (T2) = 157°C.
Convert all temperatures from Celsius to Kelvin by adding 273.15. T1 = 27°C + 273.15 = 300.15 K, T2 = 157°C + 273.15 = 430.15 K.
Use the combined gas law, which relates the pressure, volume, and temperature of a gas. The formula is (P1 * V1) / T1 = (P2 * V2) / T2, where P2 is the final pressure we need to find.
Rearrange the combined gas law formula to solve for P2: P2 = (P1 * V1 * T2) / (T1 * V2).
Substitute the known values into the rearranged formula to calculate P2. This will give you the final pressure in the tank after the volume is decreased and the temperature is increased.

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Key Concepts

Here are the essential concepts you must grasp in order to answer the question correctly.

Ideal Gas Law

The Ideal Gas Law relates the pressure, volume, temperature, and number of moles of a gas through the equation PV = nRT. This law assumes that the gas behaves ideally, meaning that the interactions between gas molecules are negligible and that the volume of the gas molecules themselves is also negligible compared to the volume of the container.
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Ideal Gases and the Ideal Gas Law

Charles's Law

Charles's Law states that the volume of a gas is directly proportional to its absolute temperature when pressure is held constant. This means that if the temperature of a gas increases, its volume will also increase, provided the pressure does not change. This principle is crucial for understanding how temperature changes affect gas behavior.
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Boyle's Law

Boyle's Law states that the pressure of a gas is inversely proportional to its volume when the temperature is held constant. This means that if the volume of a gas decreases, its pressure will increase, assuming the temperature remains unchanged. This relationship is essential for analyzing situations where the volume and pressure of a gas are altered.
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