Volume calculation is a key aspect when using the Ideal Gas Law, which is represented as \(PV=nRT\). It's a formula that connects pressure (\(P\)), volume (\(V\)), number of moles (\(n\)), the gas constant (\(R\)), and temperature (\(T\)). To find volume at STP conditions, the equation is rearranged to solve for \(V\):
\[V = \frac{nRT}{P}\]
Where:
- \(n\) is the number of moles (calculated from mass),
- \(R\) is the ideal gas constant (0.0821 L atm/mol K),
- \(T\) is the temperature in Kelvin, and
- \(P\) is the pressure in atmospheres.
For example, when 4.00 grams of solid carbon dioxide sublime, using its molar mass to find \(n\), and substituting in STP values, you can determine the gas's volume. Solving \(V\) gives you the balloon's volume after the solid CO2 converts to gas at those specific conditions. Understanding this calculation allows predictions of how gases behave in different environmental settings.