Chapter 12: Gas Laws and Properties

These flashcards cover key vocabulary terms and definitions related to gas laws and properties, essential for understanding the behavior of gases and ideal gas theories.

Ideal Gas Model

A set of simplifying assumptions about the behavior of gas particles, including that they are point-like and interact only during collisions.

Molecule

A bound set of atoms that represent the smallest fundamental unit of a chemical compound.

Kinetic Energy

The energy that a particle possesses due to its motion, which influences gas temperature.

Avogadro’s Number

6.02 x 10^23, which represents the number of constituent particles (atoms or molecules) in one mole of a substance.

RMS Speed (Root Mean Square Speed)

A measure of the average speed of particles in a gas, calculated from their individual speeds.

Boyle’s Law

Describes the relationship between the pressure and volume of a gas at a fixed temperature; volume is inversely proportional to pressure.

Charles's Law

Describes the relationship between the volume and temperature of a gas at a constant pressure; volume is directly proportional to temperature.

Gay-Lussac’s Law

Describes the relationship between pressure and temperature of a gas at constant volume; pressure is directly proportional to temperature.

Ideal Gas Law

An equation of state for an ideal gas, commonly expressed as PV=nRT, relating pressure (P), volume (V), amount of substance (n), the ideal gas constant (R), and temperature (T).

Pressure

The force exerted by gas particles against the walls of their container, measured in Pascals.

Atmospheric Pressure

The pressure exerted by the weight of the atmosphere, typically measured at sea level.

Gauge Pressure

The pressure of a gas relative to atmospheric pressure.

Mass of a Gas

Determined by the number of constituent particles and their individual masses, often expressed in grams.

Temperature (in Kelvin)

A measure of the average kinetic energy of the particles in a gas, essential for understanding gas behavior.

Fluid

A substance that can flow, encompassing liquids and gases, characterized by limited particle mobility in liquids and high mobility in gases.

Particle Motion

The behavior of gas particles that follow Newton’s laws, including straight-line motion between collisions.

Collisions

Interactions between gas particles or between particles and the walls of a container that affect pressure and momentum.

Compressible vs Incompressible

Compressible substances (gases) can be compressed into smaller volumes, while incompressible substances (solids and liquids) maintain fixed volumes.

Molar Mass

The mass of one mole of a substance, typically expressed in grams per mole (g/mol).

Phase of Matter

The distinct physical forms in which matter can exist: solid, liquid, or gas, determined by particle arrangement and motion.

Point Particles

A simplification in physics treating particles as having no size, only mass, and allowing simplified calculations of gas behavior.