Gas Heating at Constant Volume – Identify the Governing Law When a fixed mass of gas is heated in a rigid container (volume held constant), the pressure varies directly with absolute temperature according to Gay-Lussac's law (also called Amontons' law).
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ABoyle's law
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BCharles' law
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CGay-Lussac law
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DAvogadro's law
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EDalton's law of partial pressures
Answer
Correct Answer: Gay-Lussac law
Explanation
Introduction / Context:Classical gas laws describe limiting cases of the ideal-gas equation. For safety and design of rigid vessels, we need the law that links pressure and temperature at constant volume.
Given Data / Assumptions:
- Fixed mass of gas.
- Constant volume (rigid container).
- Ideal-gas behavior near the operating state.
Concept / Approach:
The ideal-gas equation pV = m R T reduces to p ∝ T when V and m are constant. This direct proportionality is historically named Gay-Lussac's (or Amontons') law, whereas Boyle's law applies at constant temperature (p ∝ 1/V) and Charles' law at constant pressure (V ∝ T).
Step-by-Step Solution:
Start from pV = m R T.At constant V and m, rearrange to p/T = constant.Hence pressure changes linearly with absolute temperature: p2/p1 = T2/T1.Identify this as Gay-Lussac's law (Amontons' law).Verification / Alternative check:
Manometer or transducer readings in a heated rigid tank follow p ∝ T_K, confirming this law for gases near ideal behavior.
Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Boyle: constant temperature case; Charles: constant pressure case; Avogadro: equal volumes have equal moles at same p and T; Dalton: total pressure is sum of partial pressures in mixtures.
Common Pitfalls:
Using Celsius instead of Kelvin; mislabeling Charles and Gay-Lussac; assuming non-ideal effects negate the linear trend over small ranges (they typically do not).
Final Answer:
Gay-Lussac law