Summary

In this simulation, students will investigate three of the fundamental gas laws, including Boyle’s Law, Charles’ Law and Gay-Lussac’s Law. Students will have the opportunity to visually examine the effect of changing the associated variables of pressure, volume, or temperature in each situation. Also, students will analyze the gas samples at the particle level as well as manipulate quantitative data in each scenario. Finally students will interpret trends in the data by examining the graph associated with each of the gas laws. This lesson accompanies the simulation from the November 2015 issue of Chemistry Solutions.

Grade Level

High or middle school

NGSS Alignment

This activity will help prepare your students to meet the performance expectations in the following standards:

• MS-PS1-4: Develop a model that predicts and describes changes in particle motion, temperature, and state of a pure substance when thermal energy is added or removed.
• Scientific and Engineering Practices:
  • Using Mathematics and Computational Thinking
  • Developing and Using Models
  • Analyzing and Interpreting Data

Objectives

By the end of this lesson, students should be able to

• Understand that pressure and volume have an indirect relationship, when temperature is held constant, as shown with Boyle’s Law.
• Understand that temperature and volume have a direct relationship, when pressure is held constant, as shown with Charles’ Law.
• Understand that pressure and temperature have a direct relationship, when volume is held constant, as shown with Gay-Lussac’s Law.
• Accurately calculate the final values for volume, pressure or temperature of a gas sample based on a set of given conditions.
• Predict the spatial distribution of particles in the gas sample as variables are changed.
• Describe the interaction and motion of particles in the gas sample as variables are changed.
• Interpret trends in the data by examining the graph associated with each of the gas laws. 

Chemistry Topics

This lesson supports students’ understanding of

• Gas Laws
• Volume
• Temperature
• Pressure

Time

Teacher Preparation: 10 minutes

Lesson: 45–60 minutes

Materials

• Computer with internet access
• Calculator
• teachchemistry.org/gaslaws

Safety

• No specific safety considerations are needed for this investigation.

Teacher Notes

• This simulation is designed so that students can interact with Boyle’s Law, Charles’ Law and Gay-Lussac’s Law separately. Tabs on the top on the screen will allow for selection of the particular law to investigate.
• This simulation is intended for students to practice completing the gas law calculations, as well as to connect specific particle behavior with the associated variable of volume, temperature or pressure.
• In addition, by clicking on the “Add Data” button, students can collect data to create a graph for each of the gas laws.
• Depending on the gas law chosen, the variable that is held constant will not be available to manipulate at any point on that particular screen.
• The arrows that appear near each variable should be clicked on to either increase or decrease the particular variable. The exact values will be displayed at the bottom of the screen in the variable list.
• Note that the Celsius temperature value can be shown on the thermometer, but the kelvin value is used for the calculations. When the Kelvin temperature exceeds 423K, the Celsius thermometer will appear to break, as it exceeds its capacity.
• An Answer Key document is available for teacher reference.