Ideal gas law Calculator
Relate pressure, volume and temperature for a gas.
Formula first
Overview
The ideal gas law represents the equation of state for a hypothetical ideal gas, combining Boyle's, Charles's, and Avogadro's laws into one relationship. It establishes a mathematical connection between the pressure, volume, absolute temperature, and the molar amount of gas present in a system.
Symbols
Variables
p = Pressure, V = Volume, n = Amount of Gas, T = Temperature, R = Gas Constant
Apply it well
When To Use
When to use: Use this equation when analyzing the behavior of gases at relatively low pressures and high temperatures where molecules act independently. It is the primary tool for determining a missing physical property of a gas sample when the other state variables are defined.
Why it matters: This relationship is essential for chemical engineering, meteorology, and the design of pneumatic systems. It allows for the calculation of gas density and molar mass, which are critical for industrial safety and atmospheric research.
Avoid these traps
Common Mistakes
- Using Celsius.
- Using dm³ without checking R units.
- Forgetting that temperature must be in Kelvin (add 273).
- Using the wrong value of R for the units being used.
One free problem
Practice Problem
A 2.50 mole sample of oxygen gas is placed in a 5.00 L container at a temperature of 300 K. Calculate the pressure in atmospheres using R = 0.0821 L·atm/mol·K.
Solve for:
Hint: Rearrange the formula to p = nRT / V.
The full worked solution stays in the interactive walkthrough.
References
Sources
- Atkins' Physical Chemistry
- Halliday, Resnick, and Walker, Fundamentals of Physics
- Wikipedia: Ideal gas law
- IUPAC Gold Book: Ideal gas
- NIST CODATA 2018
- Atkins' Physical Chemistry, 11th ed.
- IUPAC Gold Book
- Atkins' Physical Chemistry (e.g., Peter Atkins, Julio de Paula, James Keeler)