P/T = C

P/T=C

This equation shows that pressure and temperature are directly related. When the volume and the number of moles are held constant, the temperature increases as the pressure increases and vise versa.
Imagine a rigid box in which neither the volume nor the surface area can be altered. When the temperature, or measure of average Kinetic energy is increased, there will also be an increase in the speed of the gas molecules in motion and thus the number of collisions among these molecules, resulting in increased pressure.

When solving problems involving this relationship, set up a proportion similar to P₁/T₁=P₂/T₂. If three of the four variables are known, the fourth can be found through algebraic cross-multiplication.

Sample Questions:

1. Assuming all else stays the same, what is the pressure at 10'C if the original pressure is 1.00 atm at -50'C?

2. Methane gas is pumped into a 50.0L steel container, the pressure is measured to be 483 torr, and its temperature is 55'C. What pressure will the gas exert if the temperature drops to -25'C? Report your answer in torr, then atm, then kPa. (consult the conversion table)

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PV = C V/n = C P/n = C V/T = C

P/T = C Tn = C

PV=nRT

Answers to Sample Problems

Answers to Sample Test