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3.5.1 Volumes of gases

Equal numbers of moles of any gas take up equal volumes

Definition

Molar volume

The volume occupied by one mole of any gas, equal to 24 dm324\ \text{dm}^324 dm3 at room temperature and pressure.

Definition

Amount of substance

A quantity measured in moles that represents how many particles of a substance are present.

  1. At the same temperature and pressure, equal numbers of moles of any gases occupy the same volume.
  2. At room temperature and pressure, one mole of any gas fills a molar volume of 24 dm324\ \text{dm}^324 dm3.
Key Idea

For gases, the volume depends only on the number of moles, not on which gas it is, so 24 dm324\ \text{dm}^324 dm3 works for oxygen, carbon dioxide or any other gas.

Volume of a gas comes straight from its moles

Definition

Mole

The amount of a substance, measured in mol, where one mole has a mass in grams numerically equal to its relative formula mass.

  1. The volume in dm3\text{dm}^3dm3 at room temperature and pressure is the moles multiplied by 242424, so V=n×24V = n \times 24V=n×24.
  2. Rearranged, the moles of gas are n=V24n = \dfrac{V}{24}n=24V​.
Example

0.5 mol0.5\ \text{mol}0.5 mol of carbon dioxide occupies 0.5×24=12 dm30.5 \times 24 = 12\ \text{dm}^30.5×24=12 dm3 at room temperature and pressure.

Using it with a balanced equation

Definition

Balanced equation

A chemical equation containing the same number of atoms of each element on both sides.

Definition

Coefficient

A large whole number placed before a chemical formula to show the relative number of particles or moles in a balanced equation.

  1. Change the mass of the reactant into moles using n=mMrn = \dfrac{m}{M_r}n=Mr​m​.
  2. Use the mole ratio in the equation to find the moles of gas produced.
  3. Multiply the moles of gas by 242424 to get its volume in dm3\text{dm}^3dm3.
Exam technique
  • The molar volume of 24 dm324\ \text{dm}^324 dm3 is given in the exam, so use the value provided rather than trying to recall it.
  • Keep the volume in dm3\text{dm}^3dm3 unless the question asks for cm3\text{cm}^3cm3, in which case multiply by 100010001000.
Example
  • Find the volume of carbon dioxide made when 5 g5\ \text{g}5 g of calcium carbonate decomposes in CaCO3→CaO+CO2\text{CaCO}_3 \rightarrow \text{CaO} + \text{CO}_2CaCO3​→CaO+CO2​.
    1. Moles of calcium carbonate =5100=0.05 mol= \dfrac{5}{100} = 0.05\ \text{mol}=1005​=0.05 mol.
    2. The ratio is 1:11:11:1, so 0.05 mol0.05\ \text{mol}0.05 mol of carbon dioxide forms.
    3. Volume of carbon dioxide =0.05×24=1.2 dm3= 0.05 \times 24 = 1.2\ \text{dm}^3=0.05×24=1.2 dm3.
Self review
  • What volume does one mole of any gas occupy at room temperature and pressure?
  • Write the formula linking the volume of a gas to its number of moles.
  • What volume does 2 mol2\ \text{mol}2 mol of hydrogen occupy at room temperature and pressure?
  • How many moles of gas are there in 6 dm36\ \text{dm}^36 dm3 at room temperature and pressure?
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Two equal-volume gas containers showing 1 mol of oxygen and 1 mol of carbon dioxide at room temperature and pressure

At the same temperature and pressure, equal numbers of moles of any gases occupy equal volumes. The gas identity does not affect the volume, so oxygen, carbon dioxide and hydrogen all follow the same rule.

At room temperature and pressure, one mole of any gas occupies a molar volume of 24 dm324 \, \text{dm}^324dm3.

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What volume does 1 mol of any gas occupy at room temperature and pressure?

3.5.1 Volumes of gases Revision Guide

  1. GCSE
  2. /Chemistry
  3. /3.5.1 Volumes of gases

Revision notes for AQA GCSE Chemistry 3.5.1 Volumes of gases: explanations and worked examples.

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