A sample of a gas has a volume of of 2.0 liters at a pressure of 1.0 atmosphere. When the volume increases to 40 liters, at constant temperature, what will the pressure be?

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Answer 1 · 2016-12-16T04:56:39

The final pressure will be 0.05 atm.

This is an example of Boyle's law which states that the volume of a gas varies inversely with pressure, when mass and temperature are kept constant.

Equation
#V_1P_1=V_2P_2#, where #V# is volume and #P# is pressure.

Known
#V_1="2.0 L"#
#P_1="1.0 atm"#
#V_2="40 L"#

Unknown
#P_2#

Solution
Rearrange the equation to isolate #P_2#. Substitute the known values into the equation and solve.

#P_2=(V_1P_1)/V_2#

#P_2=((2.0cancel"L")xx(1.0"atm"))/(40cancel"L")="0.05 atm"#