Lab 7/ Boyle's Law: Pressure-Volume Relationship in Gases

Holly C. Formica

Chemistry 101

Lab 7

Boyle’s Law: Pressure-Volume Relationship in Gases

Introduction

The objective of this experiment is to determine the relationship between the pressure and volume of a confined gas using principles of Boyle’s Law and the following equation:

Y=Ax^B

Where x is volume, y is pressure, A is the proportionality constant, and B is the exponent of x (volume) in this equation.

The gas that we used in this experiment was room air, and it was confined in a plastic syringe connected to a gas pressure sensor. We made the assumption that the temperature of the air remained constant. Pressure and volume data were collected during the experiment and then analyzed.

In the second part of the experiment we determined what kind of a mathematical relationship exists between the pressure and volume.

The equipment used were a Vernier Gas Pressure Sensor and a 20 mL gas syringe.

In the last part of the experiment we used the results to predict the pressure at other volumes.

Hypothesis

When the volume is doubled from 5.0 mL to 10.0 mL, the pressure should be halved.

When the volume is halved from 20.0 mL to 10.0 mL, the pressure should be doubled.

When the volume is tripled from 5.0 mL to 15.0 mL, the pressure should be one-third.

There should be an inverse relationship between the two variables of volume and pressure and we should be using the k=P V equation.

Methods and Procedures

The procedures were followed per the instructions for Lab 7. There were no observable deviations from procedure.

Results

The data table attached represents measurements for both volume (in mL) and pressure (in kPa).

Due to the shape of the curve in the plot of pressure versus volume, the shape of the curve in the plot shows an inverse relationship between volume and pressure, because when one value goes up, the other value goes down. This is verifies by the graph on the Vernier Gas Pressure...