Gas Laws Reviewer
Boyle’s Law (Pressure-Volume Relationship)
• Boyle’s Law states that at constant temperature, the pressure and volume of a
gas are inversely proportional.
• If pressure doubles, the volume of a gas is reduced to half, provided
temperature remains constant.
• Formula: P₁V₁ = P₂V₂
• Boyle’s Law applies when temperature remains constant.
• Robert Boyle formulated Boyle’s Law.
Key Concept:
As pressure increases, volume decreases (if temperature is constant).
Charles’ Law (Temperature-Volume Relationship)
• Charles’ Law states that at constant pressure, the volume of a gas is directly
proportional to temperature.
• If temperature increases, the volume of the gas also increases.
• A balloon shrinking in a freezer is an example of Charles’ Law.
• Gas molecules move faster when temperature increases.
• Jacques Charles discovered Charles’ Law.
Formula:
V₁/T₁ = V₂/T₂
Key Concept:
As temperature increases, volume increases (if pressure is constant).
Gay-Lussac’s Law (Pressure-Temperature
Relationship)
• Gay-Lussac’s Law states that at constant volume, the pressure of a gas
increases when temperature increases.
• A car tire heating up after long driving is an example of this law.
• If temperature decreases while volume remains constant, pressure also
decreases.
• Sealed containers heat up and increase pressure, which can lead to
explosions.
• Gay-Lussac’s Law applies when volume remains constant.
Formula:
P₁/T₁ = P₂/T₂
Key Concept:
As temperature increases, pressure increases (if volume is constant).
Avogadro’s Law (Volume and Moles Relationship)
• Avogadro’s Law states that equal volumes of gases at the same temperature and
pressure contain the same number of molecules.
• Amedeo Avogadro discovered this law.
• The volume of a gas is directly proportional to the number of molecules
(moles) present.
• If the amount of gas in a balloon increases, its volume increases.
• Avogadro’s Law helps determine the number of gas particles in a sample.
Formula:
V₁/n₁ = V₂/n₂
Key Concept:
More gas molecules mean more volume (if temperature and pressure are
constant).
Ideal Gas Law (PV = nRT)
• The Ideal Gas Law equation is:
PV = nRT
Where:
o P = Pressure
o V = Volume
o n = Number of moles
o R = Universal gas constant
o T = Temperature in Kelvin
• The gas constant (R) depends on the units of pressure and volume.
• If pressure increases while temperature stays constant, volume decreases.
• The Ideal Gas Law combines Boyle’s, Charles’, and Avogadro’s Laws.
• The unit for pressure in gas laws is Pascals (Pa) or atmospheres (atm).
Key Concept:
All gas laws are combined in the Ideal Gas Law to explain gas behavior under
different conditions.
Tips for Remembering Gas Laws
✅ Boyle’s Law – "Boil" (Think of a syringe – when you pull the plunger, volume
increases and pressure decreases).
✅ Charles’ Law – "Hot Air Balloon" (When heated, the balloon expands).
✅ Gay-Lussac’s Law – "Pressure Cooker" (More heat = More pressure inside a
sealed container).
✅ Avogadro’s Law – "Blowing up a Balloon" (More air = Bigger balloon).
✅ Ideal Gas Law – "Everything Combined!"
Reviewer: Balancing Chemical Equations
What is a Balanced Chemical Equation?
A balanced chemical equation follows the Law of Conservation of Mass, which states that
matter cannot be created or destroyed in a chemical reaction. This means that the number of
atoms of each element must be the same on both the reactant and product sides of the
equation.
Example of an Unbalanced and Balanced Equation
Steps to Balance a Chemical Equation
Common Mistakes to Avoid
❌ Changing subscripts instead of coefficients
• Incorrect: H₂ + O₂ → H₂O₂
• ✅ Correct: 2H₂ + O₂ → 2H₂O
❌ Forgetting to balance polyatomic ions as a group
• If the same polyatomic ion appears on both sides, balance it as one unit.
❌ Ignoring diatomic elements (H₂, O₂, N₂, Cl₂, Br₂, I₂, F₂)
• These always exist as molecules in nature, so never write "O" instead of O₂.
Tips to Balance Equations Quickly
✔ Start with the most complex molecule first
✔ Balance hydrogen and oxygen last
✔ Use a table to count atoms if needed
✔ Double-check your work!
