If #16 L# of a gas at room temperature exerts a pressure of #6 kPa# on its container, what pressure will the gas exert if the container's volume changes to #2 L#?

Answer 1

#48 kPa#

It helps to keep in mind that pressure and volume are inversely correlated when answering questions about them.

With this in mind, if the volume of the container is reduced (like in the problem when it is changed from #16L#to #2 L#) the pressure of the system must increase (granted there is no exchange of mass or change in temperature in the system).

You can use an adaptation of the ideal gas equation to solve this problem:

#P_1V_1=P_2V_2#

Where #P_1# and #V_1# are the initial pressure and volume of the system, and #P_2# and #V_2# are the final pressure and volume of the system.

To proceed, simply plug in:

#P_1V_1=P_2V_2#

#(P_1V_1)/V_2=P_2#

#(6kPa*16L)/(2L)=P_2#

#P_2=6kPa*8#

#P_2=48kPa#

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Answer 2

Charlotte Aaron

If the volume of the gas changes from 16 L to 2 L, and the initial pressure is 6 kPa, the final pressure will be 48 kPa.

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Answer from HIX Tutor

When evaluating a one-sided limit, you need to be careful when a quantity is approaching zero since its sign is different depending on which way it is approaching zero from. Let us look at some examples.