THE MOLE VOLUME RELATIONSHIPS OF GASES

Volume of gases depend on temperature and pressure. To relate masses, moles and volume of
gases, information about the temperature and pressure of the gases must be known.

The molar gas volume

This is the volume occupied by one mole of a gas at standard temperature and pressure.

One mole of any gas at s.t.p occupies 22400cm3 or 22.4litres or 22.4dm3

The standard pressure is 760mmhg or 101250N/M2 or 1 atmosphere and standard temperature is

273k or 0℃

0ne mole of any gas at room temperature 24000cm3 or 24 dm3 or 24ltres.

Relationship between number of moles and volume of a mass.

volume of the gas

Number of moles of a gas at s.t.p =
molar gas volume at s.t.p (22.4dm3 or 22400cm3 )

volume of the gas

Number of moles of a gas at r.t.p =
molar gas volume at r.t.p (24dm3 or 24000cm3 )

Worked Examples;

1. Calculate number of moles in;

(i) 2.4 litres of oxygen at r.t.p

Solution;

24 litres of oxygen gas at r.t.p contain 1 mole

 1 
1 litre of oxygen gas at r.t.p contains  1 moles
 24 

 2.4 
1 moles
2.4 litres of oxygen gas at r.t.p contain  24 
=0.1 mole

(ii) 560 cm3 of carbon dioxide gas measured at r.t.p

Solution;
 24000 cm3 of carbon dioxide gas contain 1 mole

 1 
1 cm3 of carbon dioxide gas contains   1 moles
 24000 

 560 
560 cm3 of carbon dioxide gas contain   1 moles
 24000 

(iii) 48litres of Sulphur dioxide measured at r.t.p

(iv) 112 cm3 of hydrogen gas measured at s.t.p

(v) 11.2 dm3 of nitrogen gas measured at s.t.p

2. Determine the volume of the following gases at r.t.p ( 1 mole of a gas at r.t.p occupies 24 dm3
or 24 litres or 24000 cm3

(i) 0.2 moles of hydrogen gas

Solution;

1 mole of hydrogen gas at r.t.p occupies 24dm3

0.2 moles of hydrogen gas at r.t.p occupy (0.2  24) dm3

= 4.8 dm3

volume of hydrogen gas is 4.8dm3

(ii) 0.35 moles of chlorine gas

(iii) 2.5 moles of oxygen gas

(iv) 20g of carbondioxide gas

(v) 14g of hydrogen sulphide

(vi) 25g of sulphurtrioxide

(vii) 84g of nitrogen gas

(H=1, O=16, C=12, S=32)

3. Calculate the volumes occupied by the following gases at s.t.p

(i) 0.5 moles of nitrogen gas

(ii) 0.71g of chlorine gas (Cl=35.5)

 (iii) 0.11g of carbondioxide gas (C=12, O=16)

(iv) 0.001 moles of hydrogen gas

(v) 51g of ammonia gas (N=14, H=1)

1. Calculate the volume of carbon dioxide evolved when 6.0g of carbon are burnt completely in
air at STP. (C=12, molar volume = 22400cm3 at STP)

2. Calculate the volume of ammonia produced when 18.5g of hydrogen reacted with nitrogen
(H=1, N=14 1 mole of a gas occupies 22400cm3 at stp)

3. Magnesium reacts with hydrochloric acid according to the following equation

Mg(s) + 2HCl(aq) ⎯⎯
→ MgCl2(aq) + H2(g)

Calculate the volume of hydrogen gas formed when 2.32g of magnesium were dissolved in
hydrochloric acid.

Gay Lussac’s Law

the law states that “when gases combine, they do so in volumes which bear a simple ratio to one
another and to the volumes of the product if gases provided temperature and pressure remain
constant.

For example;

2NO(g) + O2(g) ⎯⎯
→ 2NO2(g)

2 moles of nitrogen monoxide react with 1 mole of oxygen to form 2 moles of nitrogen dioxide
gas.

According to Gay Lussac’s Law

2 volumes of NO react with 1 volume of O2 to form 2 volumes of NO2

Worked examples

Example 1

Calculate the volume of nitrogen monoxide required to completely react with 200cm3 of oxygen
under the same conditions of temperature and pressure.

Solution;

2NO(g) + O2(g) ⎯⎯
→ 2NO2(g)
2 moles of NO react with 1 mole of O2

2 volumes of NO react with 1 volume of O2

 (2  200)cm3 of NO react with 200cm3 of oxygen

20cm3 of carbon monoxide was mixed with 5cm3 of oxygen and the mixture exploded.
Determine the total volume of the resultant gases mixture

Solution;

2CO(g) + O2(g) ⎯⎯
→ 2CO2(g)

1 mole of O2 produces 2 moles of CO2

1 volume of O2 produces 2 volumes of CO2

5cm3 of O2 produce (2  5)cm3 of CO2

= 10cm3 of CO2

1 mole of O2 reacts with 2 moles of CO

1 volume O2 reacts with 2 volumes of CO

5cm3 of O2 react with (2  5)cm3 of CO

= 10 cm3 of CO

Volume of unreacted CO = 20 – 10

= 10 cm3

Volume of resulting gases mixture = 10 + 10

= 20cm3

Example 3;

20cm3 of carbomonoxide was reacted with 80cm3 of oxygen

(i) Determine the volume of unreacted oxygen

(ii) Calculate the volume of carbon dioxide formed

(iii) Determine the total volume of the resultant gas mixture

Solution;
(i) Volume of unreacted oxygen

2CO(g) + O2(g) ⎯⎯
→ 2CO2(g)

2 moles of CO react with 1 mole of O2

2 volume of CO react with 1 volume of O2

20cm3 of CO react with (½  20)cm3 of O2

= 10 cm3 of O2

volume of unreacted O2 = 80 – 10

= 70cm3

(ii) Volume of carbon dioxide formed

2 moles of CO produce 2 moles of CO2

2 volumes of CO produce 2 volumes of CO2

20cm3 of CO produce 20cm3 of CO2

volume of CO2 formed is 20cm3

(iii) The total volume of the resultant gas mixture

Volume of the resultant gas mixture = 70 + 20

= 90 cm3

Example 4;

Ammonia decomposes when heated according to the equation

2 NH3 (g) N2 (g) + 3H2 ( g )

Determine the total volume of the gaseous products, if 100cm3 of ammonia was decomposed.

Solution;

2 moles of NH3 decompose to form 1 mole of N2 and 3 moles of H2

2 volumes of NH3 decompose to form 1 mole of N2 and 3 moles of H2

100  3 3
100cm3 of NH3 decompose to form (½  100) cm3 of N2 and cm of H2
2
100cm3 of NH3 decompose to form 50cm3 of N2 and 150cm3 of H2

Total volume of gases product formed = 50 + 150

= 200 cm3

Exercises

(a) 200cm3 of carbomonoxide was reacted with 80cm3 of oxygen and the mixture that remained
was allowed to cool to room temperature.

(i) Calculate the volume of each of the remaining gases

(ii) Determine the total volume of the resultant gas mixture.

(b) 100cm3 of hydrogen was reacted with 30cm3 of oxygen. Calculate the volume of the resultant

gas mixture

(c) Calculate the volume of nitrogen monoxide required to completely react with 200cm3 of

oxygen

(d)

Avogadro’s Law

It states that equal volumes of all gases at the same temperature and pressure contain same
number of moles.

Importance of Avogadro’s principle

We can change from volumes of gases directly to moles.

Application of Avogadro’s see Gay Lussac’s Law.

Charles’s Law

It states that at constant pressure the volume of a given mass of gas is directly proportional to its
absolute temperature.

V
i.e. V  T, (P constant). = constant
T

for a given mass of gas, volume V1 at temperature T1 if the temperature is changed to T2, the
volume occupied by the gas is calculated from:
V1 V2
=
T1 T2

Example 1

Calculate the temperature of 200cm3 of methane if at 27˚c has a volume of 400cm3

Solution:

V
Using = constant ; V1 = 400cm3, T1 = 27+ 273, V2 = 200cm3, T2=?
T

= 300K

400 200
=
300 T2

200  300
T=
400

= 150K Or; -123˚c

NB: When a gas is cooled it contracts and occupies a small volume. Combining Charles’s law
and Boyle’s law we obtain the ideal gas equation. i.e.

PV
= constant
T

Or;

P1V1 P2V2
=
T1 T2

Application of the gas laws

Example 1

Calculate the volume of oxygen at 12℃ and 745mmHg pressure which could be obtained by
heating 5g of potassium chlorate (K= 39, Cl=35.5, O=26, molar gas volume at s.t.p =22.4dm3)

Solution:

Steps

• We require the reaction equation

• We must find the mole ratio of KClO3:O2

 • Change the amount of KClO3 to moles

• Apply the mole ratio to find the number of moles of oxygen produced.

• The volume produced at s.t.p, change it to 12℃ and 745mmHg using the ideal gas law

Reaction equation; 2KClO3(s) ⎯⎯

→ 2KCl(s) + 3O2(g)

Mole ratio KClO3:O2

2:3

RFM of KClO3 = 39 + 35.5 + (16 3 )

= 122.5

5
Moles of KClO3 =
122.5

= 0.0408 moles

2 moles of KClO3 when heated produce 3 moles of O2

3
 0.0408 moles of KClO3 when heated produce  0.0408 moles of O2
2

= 0.0612 moles

But 1 mole of a gas occupies 22.4dm3 at s.t.p

 0.0612 moles occupy (0.0612  22.4) dm3

= 1.3709dm3

PV
Using = constant ; P1 = 760mmHg, P2 = 745mmHg, V=1.3709dm3, T1=273k, T2=12+273
T

= 285k

V2 = ?

P1V1 P2V2
=
T1 T2

760 1.3709 745  V2

=
273 285
V2 = 1.4599dm3

 volume of oxygen produced at12 c and 745mmHg is 1.4599dm3

 A molar solution is a solution which contains one mole of a solute in 1000cm3 of a
solvent

150 0.1
Moles of acid transferred =
1000

= 0.015 moles
250cm3 of solution contain 0.015 moles

0.015 1000
1000cm3 of solution will contain moles
250

molarity of solution is 0.06M

20 0.06
Moles of HCl in 20cm3 of solution =
1000

= 0.0012 moles
Since mole ratio HCl : Na2CO3 is 2 : 1

1
Moles of sodium carbonate used =  0.0012moles
2

= 0.0006 moles
25cm3 of sodium carbonate solution contain = 0.0006 moles

0.0006 1000
1000cm3 of sodium carbonate solution contain moles
25

= 0.024 moles
 molarity of Na2CO3 solution is 0.024M

700  1  0
1. (a) moles of silver nitrate in solution =
1000

= 0.7moles

43
(b) Moles of hydrogen bromide bubbled =
24

= 0.179moles
(c) Maximum moles of silver bromide formed = 0.2moles
Mass of 1mole of silver bromide = 108 + 80
 = 188g

 Mass of silver bromide formed = 0.2 × 188

= 37.6g

1120
Moles of chlorine = moles
22400

2 1120
Moles of KMnO4 =  moles
5 22400

 2 1120 
 mass of KMnO4 used =   158 
 5 22400 
=3.2g

Standard and Molar solutions

A standard solution
is a solution of known concentration.
Examples of standard solutions are;
solution containing 12g of sodium chloride in one litre of a solution; a solution containing 2
moles of solute in 1dm3 etc.
The substance that is used to prepare a standard solution is known as a primary standard.

A Molar solution
is a solution that contains one mole of a substance in a solution of one litre.
In other words, it is a solution containing one mole of solute in one litre.

Other related terms are;

Concentration;
This is the amount of solutes in a given volume of solution.

Molarity;
This is the number of moles of solute in one litre of a solution.
The unit is mol/dm3 or mol/l. The molarity of a solution is commonly denoted by letter M.
E.g.
0.2M NaOH which mean 1 litre of a solution containing 0.2 moles of NaOH.

1 litre(1 l)=1cubic decimetre (1dm3) = 1000 cubic centimetre (1000cm3)

Calculations on molarity and masses
Examples
1. Calculate the molarities of the following solution given (Na=23,O=16
H=1,C=12,Cl=35.5,S=32)
(a) 13.5g of copper(II)chloride in 1dm3 of solution
(b) 4.0g of sodium hydroxide in 400cm3 of solution
(c) 53g of anhydrous sodium carbonate in 2 dm3 of solution

Solution
a) RFM of CuCl2 = 64 + ( 35.5  2 )
= 64 + 71
= 135
135g is contained in 1 mole of CuCl2
1 g is contained in ( ) moles of CuCl2
13.5g is contained in ( ) moles of CuCl2
=0.1M of CuCl2

b) 400cm3 of solution contains 4.0g of NaOH

1cm3 of solution contains ( )g of NaOH
1000cm3 of solution contains ( )g of NaOH
=10g/l of NaOH (concentration in grams/litre)

RFM of NaOH = 23+16+1

=40
40g is contained in 1 mole of NaOH
1 g is contained in ( ) moles of NaOH
10 g is contained in ( ) moles of NaOH
=0.25M NaOH

c) 2dm3 of solution contains 53g of Na2CO3

1dm3 of solution contains ( )g of Na2CO3
3
=26.5g/dm of Na2CO3 (concentration in grams/litre)

RMM of Na2CO3
=23x2+12+16x3
=106

106g is contained in 1 mole of Na2CO3

1 g is contained in ( ) moles of Na2CO3
10 g is contained in ( ) moles of Na2CO3
=0.25M Na2CO3

When the concentration of a solute in grams per litre and the RFM are known then the molarity
can be calculated from the expression.
concentration in g/l
Molarity =
RFM
N.B. The use of formula is not so much recommended and workings should be from first
principle.

1. Calculate the mass of the named substance needed to make

(a) 0.1 dm3 of 2M sodium sulphate solution
(b) 1 l of 0.25M sodium hydroxide solution
(c) 25cm3 of 0.1M potassium carbonate solution
(d) 500cm3 of 0.05M sodium carbonate solution

Solution
1. (a) 1dm3 of solution contains 2 moles of Na2SO4
0.1dm3 of solution contains ( ) moles of Na2SO4
=0.2 moles of Na2SO4

RMM for Na2SO4

=23x2+32+16x4
=142

1 mole of Na2SO4 weighs 142g

0.2 moles of Na2SO4 weighs ( ))g
=28.4g

b) 1l of solution contains 0.25 moles of NaOH

RMM for NaOH

=23+16+1
=40

1 mole of NaOH weighs 40g

0.25 moles of NaOH weighs ( ))g
=10g
c) 1000cm3 of solution contains 0.1moles of K2CO3
1 cm3 of solution contains ( ) moles of K2CO3
25 cm3 of solution contains ( ) moles of K2CO3
=0.0025 moles of K2CO3
RMM of K2CO3
=39x2+12+16x3
=138
1 mole of K2CO3 weighs 138g
0.0025 moles of K2CO3 weighs ( ))g
=0.345g
Calculating number of moles of ions in standard solutions

Examples
1. Calculate the number of moles of hydrogen ions in 25cm3 of a 0.2 M
sulphuric acid.
2. Calculate the number of moles of potassium ions in 35cm3 of 0.12 M
potassium carbonate solution.

Solution
1. 1000cm3 of solution contains 0.2moles of H2SO4
1 cm3 of solution contains ( ) moles of H2SO4
3
25 cm of solution contains ( ) moles of H2SO4
=0.005 moles of H2SO4
From the equation of ionization of H2SO4

H2SO4(aq) 2H+(aq) + (aq)

1 mole of H2SO4 produces 2 moles H+

0.005 moles of H2SO4 produces ( ) moles H+
=0.01 moles H+
2. 1000cm3 of solution contains 0.12 moles of K2CO3
1 cm3 of solution contains ( ) moles of K2CO3
3
35 cm of solution contains ( ) moles of K2CO3
=0.0042 moles of K2CO3
From the equation of ionization of K2CO3
K2CO3(aq) 2K+(aq) + (aq)

1 mole of K2CO3 produces 2 moles K+

0.0042 moles of K2CO3 produces ( ) moles K+
=0.0084 moles K+