Chapter 5
Q. 5.3
Q. 5.3
Sulfur hexafluoride (SF_{6}) is a colorless and odorless gas. Due to its lack of chemical reactivity, it is used as an insulator in electronic equipment. Calculate the pressure (in atm) exerted by 1.82 moles of the gas in a steel vessel of volume 5.43 L at 69.5°C.
Strategy The problem gives the amount of the gas and its volume and temperature. Is the gas undergoing a change in any of its properties? What equation should we use to solve for the pressure? What temperature unit should we use?
Step-by-Step
Verified Solution
Because no changes in gas properties occur, we can use the ideal gas equation to calculate the pressure. Rearranging Equation (5.8), we write
PV=nRT (5.8)
p=\frac{nRT}{V}=\frac{(1.82 mol)(0.0821 L. atm/K. mol)(69.5+273)K}{5.43 L}
=9.42 atm