Chapter 1: Introduction to Gases

These flashcards cover key vocabulary and definitions related to the properties and laws of gases as discussed in the lecture.

Pressure (P)

The force exerted per unit area, calculated by the formula P = F/A.

Volume (V)

The amount of three-dimensional space occupied by a substance.

Number of Moles (n)

A measure of the quantity of a substance, represented by lowercase 'n'.

Temperature

A measure of the average kinetic energy of particles in a substance, must be expressed in Kelvin for gas calculations.

Gas Laws

Relationships that describe how the pressure, volume, temperature, and amount of gas are interrelated.

Boyle's Law

States that pressure is inversely proportional to volume when temperature and amount of gas are constant.

Atmospheric Pressure

The average pressure exerted by the Earth's atmosphere at sea level, approximately 101325 Pascals.

Pascal (Pa)

The SI unit of pressure, defined as one newton per square meter (N/m²).

Kilopascal (kPa)

A unit of pressure equal to 1000 Pascals, commonly used in meteorology and engineering.

Millimeter Mercury (mmHg)

A unit of pressure defined as the pressure exerted by a column of mercury one millimeter high.

Torr

A unit of pressure equivalent to 1 mmHg, often used in vacuum measurements.

Kelvin Temperature Scale

A temperature scale where absolute zero is 0 K; used in scientific calculations involving gas laws.

Conversion from Celsius to Kelvin

To convert Celsius to Kelvin, add 273.15.

Pounds per Square Inch (PSI)

An imperial unit of pressure commonly used in measuring tire pressure.

Inversion of a Mercury Column

A technique used in barometers to measure atmospheric pressure based on the height of a mercury column.

Standard Temperature and Pressure (STP)

Conditions defined as 0°C (273.15 K) and 1 atm (760 mmHg) used for gas calculations.

Direct Proportion

A relationship where an increase in one variable results in an increase in another variable (x ∝ y).

Inverse Proportion

A relationship where an increase in one variable results in a decrease in another variable (x ∝ 1/y).