GAS LAW

TOPICAL QUESTIONS BASED ON PAST KCSE PAPERS

1. Explain why the volume of a gas increases when its temperature is increased at a constant
pressure. (1 mk)
Cotton wool pads were socked with concentrated solutions of gas “p” and gas “Q” the
pads were then placed of the opposite ends of a long horizontal glass tube at the same
time. The tube was then immediately corked at both ends as shown the diagram
below.

After sometimes the gases were observed to meet at point “R” which of the two gases is
dense? Explain your answer (2 mks)
2. A mixture containing equal volumes of hydrogen and carbon (IV) oxide was introduced as
shown below

Which gas would be detected at point “C” first? Explain (2 mks)

3. In an experiment to study diffusion of gases a student set up the apparatus shown in the
diagram I. After sometime the student noticed a change in the water level as shown in
diagram II.

Give an explanation for the change in water level (2 mks)

3 0
4. A fixed mass of gas has a volume of 250 cm at a temperature of 270 and 750 mm Hg
pressure. Calculate the volume the gas would occupy at 420c and 750 mm pressure.
5. A gas occupies a volume of 400 cm3 at 500k and atmospheric pressure. What will be the
temperature of the gas when the volume and pressure of the gas is 100 cm3 and 0.5
atmospheric pressure respectively? (2 mks)
6. A sealed glass tube containing air at S.T.P was immersed in water at 1000C. Assuming there
was no increase in volume of the glass tube due to expansion of the glass. Calculate the
pressure of the air inside the tube.
Standard pressure = 760mmHg: Standard temperature = 273 K. (2 mks)
7. A given volume of Ozone (03) diffused from a certain apparatus in 96 seconds. Calculate the
time taken by equal volume of carbon (IV) oxide (Co2) to diffuse under the same condition
(O= 16) (C=12) (2 mks)
8. A few crystals of potassium manganate VII were carefully placed in a beaker at one spot.
The beaker was left undisturbed for two hours. State and explain the observation that was
made. (2 mks)
9. The graph below shows the behaviour of a fix mass of a gas at constant temperature.

(a) What is the relationship between the volume and the pressure of the gas (1 mk)
(b) 3 litres of oxygen gas at one atmospheric pressure were compressed to two atmospheres
at constant temperature. Calculate the volume occupied by oxygen gas. (2mks)
10. When a hydrocarbon was burnt completely in oxygen, 4.2 g of carbon (IV) oxide and 1.71 g
of water were formed. Determine the empirical formula of the hydrogen (H= 1.0)
(C=12) (3 mks)
3
11. 60cm of oxygen gas diffused through a porous partition in 50 seconds. How long would it
take 60cm3 of sulphur (IV) oxide gas to diffuse through the same conditions? (S= 32.0)
(O=16.0). (3 mks)
12.
(a) State Charles law
(b) The volume of a sample of hydrogen gas at temperature 291K and 1.0 x 105 pascals was 3.5
x 10-2m3. Calculate the temperature at which the volume of the gas would be 2.8 x 10-2 m3 at
1.0 x 105 pascals. (2 mks)
13. A small crystal of potassium (VII) was placed in a beaker containing water. The beaker was
left standing for two days without shaking. State and explain the observations that were
made.
14. (a) State the Graham’s law of diffusion (1 mark)
(b) The molar masses of gases w and x are 16.0 and 44.0 respectively. If the rate of diffusion of
w through a porous material is 12cm3S-1, calculate the rate of diffusion of x through the same
material. (2 marks)
15. Calculate the R.F.M of gas “A” given that the time taken for equal volumes of oxygen and
gas “A” to diffuse through a hole is 20 seconds and 24 seconds respectively (O= 16.0)
(2
mks)
16. A certain volume of Co2 gas takes 200 seconds to diffuse through porous plug. How long
would it take the same volume of HCL to diffuse under the same condition? (3 mks)
17. What volume of a butane (C4H10) must be burnt in oxygen to give 11g of Co2 at r.t.p?
The equation for the combustion of butane is given below
2 C4H10 (g) + 13 O2 (g) →8C02 (g) + 10H20 (l)
18. The set up shown below was used to investigate some properties of two gases “ P” and Q

When beaker A was filled with gas P the level of water in the glass tubing rose to level ll.
When the experiment was repeated using gas Q, the level of water dropped to level III.
Explain these observations.
19. Study the set up below and answer the questions that follows

Cotton wool soaked in Cotton wool soaked in

conc ammonia solution conc hydrochloric acid
(i) What observations would be made in the tube (1 mk)
(ii) Indicate with a cross (x) on the diagram the likely position where the observation stated
in (i) above would be made. (1 mk)
(iii) Write an equation for the reaction that takes places in the set up above (1 mk)
3 3
20. 88 cm of gas K diffuse through a small hole in 40 seconds while 50cm of hydrogen gas
diffuse through the same hole under the same conditions in 5 seconds. Calculate the RMM of
the gas K (3 mks)
3 3 3
21. 200 cm ammonia gas are burnt in 300 cm of oxygen gas (excess). 200 cm of nitrogen (II)
oxides and 300 cm3 steam were formed. 50 cm3 of oxygen was left unused. Deduce the
equation for this reaction. (3 mks)
22. Sketch a demonstration graph showing variation of pressure of a gas against volume at a
constant temperature. (2 mks)
3 0
23. Nitrogen gas occupies a volume of 200 cm at 25 C. What will be the temperature of nitrogen
if it occupied a volume of 300 cm3? (2 mks)
24. What will be the volume of a certain mass of nitrogen gas at 20 C if it occupies 200 cm3 at
0

250C pressure remain constant. (2 mks)

25. 200 cm of gas “p” at s.t.p was cooled and the volume contracted to 160 cm3. Calculate the
3

new temperature of the gas in 0C if the pressure is kept constant.

26. Form three students found that a mass of nitrogen gas occupies 330 cm3 at 2800C and 760
mm Hg pressure. At what temperature will the volume of the gas be 190cm3 and the pressure
800 mm Hg?
ANSWERS
GAS LAWS
1. Kinetic energy of the gas increases, and gas molecules moves faster. The space
between them increases.
2. “Q” it diffuses more slowly i.e, it covered a short distance
3. Hydrogen; it is less dense than Coz and diffuses faster
4. Air is less dense than carbon (IV) oxide and so it enters the porous pot faster than
carbon (IV) oxide and so it enters the porous pot faster than carbon (IV) oxide leave out
of it.
This creates a high pressure in the pot and the level of eater rises up as shown.
5. V1 = V2
T1 T2
V2 = V1T2
T1
T2 =250 x 315 = 262.5 cm 3
300
6. P1V1 = P2V2 T2= T1,P2V2
T1 T2 P1V1

T2 = 500x 0.5 x 100 = 62.5K

1x 400
7. P1 = P2 P2 = P1 T2
T1 T2 T1
P2 = 760 x 373 = 1038.39 mmHg
273
8. Rmm of O3 = 16x 3 = 48
Rmm of CO2 = 12+ 36 =44
TCO2 = 44
96 48
Tcoz = 96x 6.63 = 91.9 seconds
6.92
9. The entire solution turns pink/purple.
- potassium permanganate/potassium manganate (VII) particles diffused into the water
molecules.
10. a) The volume of a fixed mass of gas is inversely proportional to the
pressure at constant temperature.
b) P1V1 = P2V2
V2 = P1V1: V2 = 3 x 1 = 1.5 lts
P2 2
11. Mass due to C = 12 x 4.2 = 1.145(g)
Mass due to H = 2 x 1.171 = 0.1899
18
Elements C H
Mass 1.145 0.1899
Ram 12 1
Moles
Mole ratio 1 2
EF =CH2
12 TO2 = RMM O2
RMMSO2
TSO2 = 50 x 64 = TO2 x 70.7 seconds
 32
13. a) The volume of a fixed mass of gas is directly proportional to its
temperature in Kelvin.
b) P1V1 = P2V2
T1 T2
T2 = 291 x (1.0 x 105 ) x 2.8 x 10-2 = 2328k
(1.0 x 10 5 ) x (3.5 x 10 -2)
14. Purple/ pink particles spread to form a uniform solution; particles of water have
k.e they collide and disintegrate the particles of KMNO4 . Diffusion takes place.
15. a) rate of diffusion is directly proportional to the square root of the density.
b) Row = RMMX = 12 = RMMA
ROX RMMO2 X 16
-1
X = 12 x 4 = 7.2365cms
6.633
16. TA = RMMMA  24 = RMMA
TO2 RMMO2 20  32
RMMA = 46
17. TCO2 = RMMco2  200 = 44
THCL RMMCCL THCL 36.5
 THCL= 36.5 x 200 = 18.2 158 secs
18. Moles of CO+2+ = 11 = 0.25 moles
44
Moles of butane = 2x0.25 = 0.0625 moles
Volume of butane = 0.0625 x 24 = 1.5 litres
19. P is less dense than air, so it diffuse into the porous pot fast compared to the rate
at which air moves out of the pot. This increases the pressure in the porous pot and water
rises as shown. Q is more dense than air, hence a lot of air diffuses out of the porous pot
compared to the amount of Q moving in. This reduces the pressure inside the porous pot
and atmospheric pressure forces water to vacuum left in the porous pot.
20. i) White deposit/ white slid/white fumes
ii) Position of formation; Nearer the HCL side since NH3 is less dense and
diffuse faster compared to HCl
iii) NH3(g) + HCl (g) → NH4CL(s)
21. Rate “K” = RMMH2
Rate +H2” RMM K
Rate of K = 88 = 2.2 cm3/ sec
40
Rate H2 = 50 = 10cm3/sec

RAMK =( 10 x 2)
2.2
Rmm ‘K’ = 2x100 = 41.322
(2.2)2
22. NH3 + O2 → NO + H2O
Vol: 300 250 200 300
Ratio : 4: 5: 4: 6:
Equation:
4NH3(g) + 5H2O(g) → 4NO(g) + 6 H 2O(l)
23.

Pressure

Volume
24. V1 = V2  T2 = V2 T1
T1 T2 V1
T2 = 300x 298(k) = 447k
200
25. P1V1 = P2V2
T1 T2
But P1 = P2
V1 = V2  V2 = V1x T2
T1 T2 T1

V2=200x243 = 196.6cm3
298
26. VI = V2  T2 = V2T1
T1 T2 V1
T2 = 160x 298 = 238 238. 4k
2000
Temp in 0C = 238.4- 237 = -34.60C
27. P1V1 = P2V2 T2 = P2V2
T1 T2 P1V1
T2= 800 x 190x 301k = 1.82. 4k
760 x 330