If a gas at 25oC occupies 3.60 L at a pressure of 2.50 atm, what will be its volume at a pressure of 1.00 atm if the temperature does NOT change?

9L

Explanation:

Given parameters:

Initial volume V₁ = 3.6L

Initial pressure P₁  = 2.5atm

Final pressure P₂  = 1atm

Unknown:

Final volume V₂  = ?

Condition: constant temperature  = 25°C

Solution:

This problem compares the volume and pressure of a gas at constant temperature.

This is highly synonymous to the postulate of Boyle's law. It states that "the volume of a fixed mass of gas is inversely proportional to the pressure provided that temperature is constant".

Mathematically;

              P₁V₁  = P₂V₂

where P and V are pressure and volume

          1 and 2 are initial and final states

Input the parameters and solve for V₂;

          2.5 x 3.6  = 1 x V₂

                  V₂  = 9L