Question

What units must be used to express the temperature in the equation for the ideal gas law? Explain.

Short answer

In the ideal gas law equation, \(PV = nRT\), the appropriate unit for temperature, \(T\), is Kelvin (K). This unit is chosen to maintain consistency with the units of the other variables, as well as with the ideal gas constant, \(R\), whose unit is \(\frac{L \cdot atm}{mol \cdot K}\). Using Kelvin ensures that the units on both sides of the equation balance out.

Step-by-step solution

Ideal Gas Law Equation

The ideal gas law equation is given by: \(PV = nRT\), where \(P\) represents pressure, \(V\) represents volume, \(n\) is the amount of gas in moles, \(R\) is the ideal gas constant, and \(T\) is the temperature.

Units of Pressure, Volume, and Amount

To determine the appropriate unit for temperature in this equation, we first need to know the units of the other variables. Pressure is usually measured in atmospheres (atm), Volume is often measured in liters (L), and Amount is measured in moles (mol).

Ideal Gas Constant

The ideal gas constant, \(R\), acts as a proportionality constant in the equation. The value of \(R\) depends on the choice of units used for pressure, volume, and amount. When pressure is measured in atmospheres (atm) and volume in liters (L), while the amount is in moles (mol), the value of \(R\) becomes 0.0821 and its unit is \(\frac{L \cdot atm}{mol \cdot K}\).

Temperature Units in Ideal Gas Law

Since the unit of \(R\) is given by \(\frac{L \cdot atm}{mol \cdot K}\), it implies that the temperature in the ideal gas law equation must be in Kelvin (K) to maintain the consistency of units. This way, when the units are canceled out on both sides of the equation, they balance out. So, the appropriate unit for temperature in the ideal gas law equation is Kelvin.

Key concepts

Ideal Gas Law Equation

Understanding the ideal gas law equation is fundamental in thermodynamics and chemistry. It relates four properties of a gas: pressure (P), volume (V), the number of moles of gas (n), and temperature (T). The equation is succinctly written as \(PV = nRT\).

In order to use this equation properly, one must remember that all the variables must be in corresponding units that align with the gas constant (R) used. Each variable represents a physical quantity: pressure (P) is the force per unit area, volume (V) is the space that the gas occupies, the number of moles (n) indicates the amount of substance, and temperature (T) is a measure of the thermal energy.

When you’re confronted with a problem involving the ideal gas law, always take into consideration the units you’re given. If they are not in the conventional SI units for pressure (pascals), volume (cubic meters), and temperature (kelvin), you might need to convert them to ensure consistency throughout the equation. This coherence of units allows you to correctly predict the behavior of a gas under various conditions of pressure, volume, and temperature.

Gas Constant (R) Units

The gas constant, often symbolized as \(R\), is a pivotal part of the ideal gas law equation and serves as a bridge between the physical quantities of pressure, volume, amount, and temperature.

The value of the gas constant depends on the units being used for the other variables in the equation. For instance, if the pressure is in atmospheres (atm) and volume is in liters (L), while the amount is in moles (mol), the gas constant \(R\) is 0.0821 with the units \((\frac{L \cdot atm}{mol \cdot K})\). However, in the International System of Units (SI), the gas constant \(R\) is 8.3145 with the units \((\frac{J}{mol \cdot K})\), which corresponds to energy per mole per kelvin.

It's essential to match the gas constant with the units of the other variables. Mismatching units can lead to incorrect calculations and an erroneous understanding of the gas's behavior. Keeping track of the units will ensure that they cancel appropriately when you perform calculations, leaving your final answer in the correct units.

SI Units for Thermodynamic Calculations

The International System of Units (SI) is the preferred system for thermodynamic calculations, including those involving the ideal gas law. SI units bring uniformity and consistency to scientific measurements and are widely adopted across the globe.

In the context of the ideal gas law, the key SI units to remember are:

• Pressure in pascals (Pa), where 1 atm equals 101,325 Pa.
• Volume in cubic meters (m^3), though liters (L) are commonly used in chemistry.
• Amount of substance in moles (mol).
• Temperature in Kelvin (K), which is the absolute temperature scale used in scientific calculations.

Thermodynamic calculations often involve converting between different units. For example, converting temperatures from Celsius to Kelvin is a frequent task, achieved by adding 273.15 to the Celsius value. Remember, failing to convert units where necessary can result in significant errors in your calculations. The key takeaway for students is to always double-check that their variables are in SI units, or if not, to convert them to SI before using the ideal gas law equation.