Percentage change in the density of a gas

In summary, the conversation discusses finding the percentage change in density when moving a gas from one vessel to another at the same temperature, and whether increasing the temperature in the second vessel will affect the gas's density. The summary also mentions using Boyle's law to determine the change in density, and corrects some mistakes in the initial calculations.
  • #1
patric44
308
40
Homework Statement
a gas was at a specific vessel at T=300K, P=110KPa, when moved to another different vessel at the same temperature its pressure becomes 105KPa, if this vessel was heated to 330K find the percentage change in the density?
Relevant Equations
P1V1=P2V2, V1/T1=V2/T2
Hi all, in this question i was asked to find the percentage change in the density, my approach was as following, first i find the change in volume due to putting the gas into the other vessel as:
$$
P_{1}V_{1}=P_{2}V_{2}\;\; → \;\;V_{2}=\frac{P_{1}}{P_{2}}V_{1}
$$
now i use
$$
V_{1}/T_{1}=V_{2}/T_{2}\;\; → \;\;\frac{P_{1}}{P_{2}}V_{1}/T_{1}=V_{2}/T_{2}
$$
and using V=m/rho leads to, with m constant, i arrive at
$$
\frac{\rho_{o}-\rho_{2}}{\rho_{o}}=\frac{1}{\frac{T_{2}P_{1}}{T_{1}P_{2}}}-1=-13.22%
$$
the answer has the choices [-5.55% , -4.55% , 4%, 5%]
what I am doing wrong, can any one help
 
Physics news on Phys.org
  • #2
Hi. The question says the gas is moved to "another different vessel at the same temperature". This is unclear.

It sounds like the temperature immediately after the move is still 300K. So the gas is heated from 300K to 330K after the move.

Will increasing the temperature of the gas in the 2nd vessel affect the gas's density?
 
  • Like
Likes patric44
  • #3
Steve4Physics said:
Hi. The question says the gas is moved to "another different vessel at the same temperature". This is unclear.

It sounds like the temperature immediately after the move is still 300K. So the gas is heated from 300K to 330K after the move.

Will increasing the temperature of the gas in the 2nd vessel affect the gas's density?
yes it was 300K then heated to 330K, yes I guess, since the increase in temperature will make the gas expand and hence lower its density
 
  • #4
patric44 said:
yes it was 300K then heated to 330K, yes I guess, since the increase in temperature will make the gas expand and hence lower its density
The vessel itself doesn't expand (or its expansion is negligible).

Will increasing the temperature change the gas's volume?
 
  • Like
Likes patric44
  • #5
wait a minute, the other container has a fixed volume hence the gas has no place to expand when heated! what was I thinking :woot:, so the change in density only comes from the movment in the other vessel which I can determine by Boyle's law, thanks so much its clear now
 
  • Like
Likes Steve4Physics
  • #6
patric44 said:
$$\frac{\rho_{o}-\rho_{2}}{\rho_{o}}=..$$
By the way, a 'change' is [final value]- [initial value]. So the change in density is ##\rho_{final} - \rho_{initial}##, not the other way round.

Also, the symbol for 'kilo' is lower case 'k' (e.g. 110kPa).

(For information, where a unit is named after someone, the full unit name is given in lower case and the (first letter of) the symbol is given in upper case. E.g. K, kelvin; Hz, hertz; and you can amuse yourself by thinking of others!)
 
  • Informative
Likes patric44

FAQ: Percentage change in the density of a gas

What is percentage change in the density of a gas?

Percentage change in the density of a gas refers to the ratio of the change in density to the original density, expressed as a percentage. It is calculated using the formula: \[(\Delta \text{Density} / \text{Original Density}) \times 100\%\], where \(\Delta \text{Density}\) is the difference between the final and initial densities.

How does temperature affect the percentage change in the density of a gas?

Temperature has a significant impact on the density of a gas. According to the Ideal Gas Law, as temperature increases, the volume of a gas increases if the pressure is constant, leading to a decrease in density. Conversely, a decrease in temperature results in a decrease in volume and an increase in density. The percentage change in density can be calculated by comparing the initial and final densities after the temperature change.

How does pressure influence the percentage change in the density of a gas?

Pressure directly affects the density of a gas. Increasing the pressure while keeping the temperature constant compresses the gas, increasing its density. Decreasing the pressure allows the gas to expand, reducing its density. The percentage change in density due to pressure changes can be determined by measuring the initial and final densities and applying the percentage change formula.

Can the percentage change in the density of a gas be negative?

Yes, the percentage change in the density of a gas can be negative. A negative percentage change indicates that the density of the gas has decreased from its original value. This typically occurs when the gas expands due to an increase in temperature or a decrease in pressure.

What role does the Ideal Gas Law play in calculating the percentage change in the density of a gas?

The Ideal Gas Law, expressed as \(PV = nRT\), relates the pressure (P), volume (V), amount of gas (n), gas constant (R), and temperature (T) of an ideal gas. By rearranging the law to solve for density (\(\rho = \frac{nM}{V}\)), we can see how changes in pressure and temperature affect density. The Ideal Gas Law helps in predicting the new density after changes in these variables, which is essential for calculating the percentage change in density.

Back
Top