Gas Law Problem Set

This problem set was developed by S.E. Van Bramer for Chemistry 145 at Widener University.

I have a special, ideal balloon. This balloon does not exert any pressure on the gas inside it. I start by taking the balloon and inflating it to 4 L in Wilmington DE last night. The weather channel said that the temperature was 45.0 °F, and the pressure was 30.27 inches of Hg.

  1. First I take this balloon scuba diving and go down to a depth of 100 ft where the pressure is 7 atm. and the temperature is 54.2 °F. What is the volume of the balloon?

  2. Next I take the ballon out to Colorado. In Denver when I arrive at the airport the temperature is 68.4 °F and the barometric pressure is 640 mmHg. Now what size is the balloon?

  3. Next on my trip is a hike up to the top of Longs Peak (14,256 ft) where the pressure is 470 torr and the temperature is -20°C. Now what size is the balloon?

  4. Finally I take the balloon on the airplane for the trip home and let it out the window. The 747 is flying at 40,000 ft where the pressure is about 80.0 torr and the temperature is -60.0 °C. What is the volume of the balloon here?

  5. And last of all the balloon soars up into the stratosphere where the pressure has dropped to 0.8 torr and the temperature is 0°C, what size is it just before it pops?

Please send comments or suggestions to svanbram@science.widener.edu

Scott Van Bramer
Department of Chemistry
Widener University
Chester, PA 19013

© copyright 1996, S.E. Van Bramer
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Last Updated: Saturday, May 18, 1996