Chemistry

Chapter 11
Boyles La w La b

PURP OSE:
The main idea of this lab is for you to verify Boyle's Law. You
should be able to measure changes in volume of a fixed mass of gas as
the pressure changes. You should be able to interpret a pressure-volume
graph.

MATERIALS:
Boyle's Law apparatus mercury barometer 4 or 5 -- 500g masses

PROCEDURES:
Adjust the amount of air in the syringe to maximum amount by
opening closing the syringe cap until the plunger (piston) is at the
correct mark. Make sure the syringe tip is securely capped and resting
firmly in the correct wooden block when you are through with the
adjustment. Twist the piston several times to allow the plunger head to
overcome frictional forces inside the cylinder.
Read the classroom barometer and record the atmospheric
pressure in a data table. convert this pressure to pascals and record this
in your data table as well.
Measure and record the mass of the wooden block that rests on top
of the plunger. Place the wooden block from the Boyle's law apparatus on
the top of the plunger.
Place a known mass on the piston, starting with 500 g. Record the
TOTAL added mass and the volume of trapped air in your data table after
the addition. Repeat this procedure until you have added 2 to 2.5 kg of
mass.
Repeat these procedures three times with the same masses. Find
the average of your results.
Remove the masses and the block of wood. Remove the piston and
measure and record its mass and diameter. Calculate and record the
area of the piston .
Calculate the total mass of the piston assembly for each
observation by adding together the mass of the piston, the mass of the
block, and the known masses. Record your answers in the data table.
Determine and record the weight of the piston assembly by multiplying
the mass (in kg) by g = 9.8 m/s2. (Remember from physical science:
weight = mass X g.)
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 For each observation, calculate the pressure exerted by the piston
assembly by dividing its weight by the area of the piston (P = F ÷ A).
Then, calculate the total pressure by adding the atmospheric pressure to
the pressure of the piston assembly. (Remember, atmospheric pressure
is pushing on the piston as well as the weight of the masses.) Be sure to
record the total masses.

DATA AND CALCULATIONS:

Table 1. Miscelaneous Data and Caclculations.

Item Measure/Calculated Amount
Barometric Reading mm
Barometric Pressure Pa
Mass of wood block kg
Mass of piston kg
Radius of piston cm
Area of piston m2
Calculations: Show how you found any items above that are
calculated quantities.

Table 2. Total Amount of Added Masses and Corresponding Volumes

Total Added Trial 1 Trial 2 Trial 3 Average
Mass (kg) Volume Volume Volume Volume
(m )
3
(m )
3
(m )
3
(m3)
0

Calculations: Show how you change mL to m 3

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Table 3. Masses, Weights, Pressures and Inverse Volumes
Total Mass of Total weight Pressure of Total 1/V
Piston of piston piston Pressure calculation
Assembly assembly (N) assembly (Pa) (1/ m3)
(kg) (Pa)

Calculations: Show how you found any items above that are
calculated quantities.

Graphs:
1)Use GraphicalAnalysis program and computer to plot a graph of Volume
Vs Pressure of the confined gas in the syringe. Draw a smooth curve
through the plotted points that best fits your data. Use the "automatic
curve fit" in the program to do this. Do not use connecting lines.

2) Use Graphical Analysis program and computer to plot a graph Pressure

of the gas versus 1/V of the confined gas in the syringe. Draw a smooth
curve through the plotted points that best fits your data. Use the
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"automatic curve fit" in the program to do this. Do not use connecting
lines. You might try a regression line for these data.

CONCLUSIONS AND QUESTIONS:

1)What is the name of the shape of the curve in the first graph? What
does it tell us about the relationship between P and V?

2)What is the shape of the line produced in the second graph? What
does that shaped tell us about the mathematical relationship between P
and 1/V?

3)Does the second graph confirm or support the relationship shown by

the first graph? Explain your answer.

4)Why is it important to keep the temperature of the air constant while

performing this experiment?

5)Since gases can be highly compressed, what must be true of the spaces
between the molecules of the gas?

6)would you expect a real gas to follow Boyle's law under extremely hgih
pressures? Explain?

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