An inflated balloon has a volume of 5.75 L at a temperature of 22°C. At what temperature in degrees Celsius will the volume of the balloon decrease to 5.38 L?

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1 Answer
Mar 2, 2016

The volume will be at #"5.38 L"# when the temperature is at #color(blue)("2.85"^@"C"")#.

Explanation:

This is an example of Charles' law which states that at constant pressure, the volume is directly proportional to the temperature in Kelvins. The equation to use is #V_1/T_1=V_2/T_2#.

Given/Known
#V_1="5.75 L"#
#T_1="22"^@"C""+273.15=295 K"#
#V_2="5.38 L"#

Unknown
#T_2#

Solution
Rearrange the equation to isolate #T_2#. Substitute the known values into the equation and solve. Convert the temperature from Kelvins to degrees Celsius.

#V_1/T_1=V_2/T_2#

#T_2=(T_1V_2)/V_1#

#T_2=((295"K")*(5.38cancel"L"))/(5.75cancel"L")#

#T_2="276 K"#

Convert Kelvins to #""^@"C""#.

#""^@"C""="K-273.15#

#""^@"C"=276-273.15="2.85"^@"C"#