Question

If `13/4 L` of a gas at room temperature exerts a pressure of `16 kPa` on its container, what pressure will the gas exert if the container's volume changes to `3/8 L`?

Answer 1

The gas will exert a pressure of `138.7 kPa`

Explanation:

We can obtain the final pressure via Boyle's Law:

Let's identify the known and unknown variables:

`color(blue)("Knowns:")`
- Initial Volume
- Final Volume
- Initial Pressure

`color(magenta)("Unknowns:")`
- Final Pressure

All we have to do is rearrange the equation to solve for the final pressure. We do this by dividing both sides by `V_2` in order to get `P_2` by itself like this:
`P_2=(P_1xxV_1)/V_2`

Insert the given values into the equation to solve for `P_2`:

`P_2= (16kPa xx 13/4cancel"L")/(3/8\cancel"L")` = `138.7 kPa`