Avogadro's Law: Definition, Formula, Equation, Examples, Questions

Avogadro's Law: Definition, Formula, Equation, Examples, Questions

Edited By Shivani Poonia | Updated on Jul 02, 2025 07:55 PM IST

Gay-Lussac's Law, otherwise known as the pressure-temperature law, the relationship that exists between pressure and temperature for a gas at constant volume. It states that the pressure of a given quantity of gas is directly proportional to its absolute temperature provided the volume remains unchanged. It means that as temperature is increased, the pressure of a gas goes up, and when there is a drop in temperature, a subsequent drop in pressure occurs.

This Story also Contains
  1. Avogadro’s Law
  2. Some Solved Examples
  3. Summary
Avogadro's Law: Definition, Formula, Equation, Examples, Questions
Avogadro's Law: Definition, Formula, Equation, Examples, Questions

Avogadro’s Law

According to Avogadro's law, "At constant temperature and pressure, an equal volume of gases will have the same number of molecules or moles "

$
\begin{aligned}
& \mathrm{V} \propto \mathrm{N} \text { or } \mathrm{n} \\
& V / n=\text { constant } \\
& \frac{V_1}{N_1}=\frac{V_2}{N_2} \text { or } \frac{V_1}{n_1}=\frac{V_2}{n_2}
\end{aligned}
$

Here $\mathrm{n}=$ Number of moles of gas used
Here $\mathrm{N}=$ Number of molecules of gas used

Molar Volume or Gram Molecular Volume
1 mole of a gaseous substance has 22.4-litre volume at NTP which is known as its molar volume.

Avogadro Number
1 mole of a substance contains $6.02 \times 10^{23}$number of molecules.

1 gram atom of any element contains $6.02 \times 10^{23}$atoms,

Hence $\mathrm{N}_A=6.02 \times 10^{23}$

Recommended topic video on (Avogadro's Law )


Some Solved Examples

Example 1: If a mixture containing 3 moles of Hydrogen and 1 mole of Nitrogen is converted completely into Ammonia, the ratio of initial and final volume under the same temperature and pressure would be:

1)3 : 1

2)1 : 3

3) 2 : 1
4)1 : 2

Solution

N2 + 3H2 → 2NH3
Initial = 1 3

final = – – 2

Total Initial moles = 4

Total final moles = 2

The ratio of moles = final/ initial

ratio $=\frac{4}{2}=\frac{2}{1}$

Avogadro’s Law -
Volume - mole relationship

$\begin{aligned} & \frac{V_1}{n_1}=\frac{V_2}{n_2} \\ & \frac{V_1}{V_2}=\frac{n_1}{n_2} \\ & \frac{V_1}{V_2}=\frac{4}{2}=\frac{2}{1}\end{aligned}$

Option (3) is correct.

Example 2: 50 g of nitrogen gas are contained in a 3 L container. The gas exerts a pressure of 3 atm on the container. If pressure is kept constant, what is the final molar amount of gas present in the container if gas is added until the volume has increased to 5 L ?

1)4

2) 3

3)2

4)5

Solution

We have given:
Mass of $N_2$ = 50g
Thus, moles of $N_2$ = 50/28 = 1.79 moles
Again, $V_i$ = 3 L and $V_f$ = 5L
Now, according to Avogadro’s law, we have:

$\begin{aligned} & \frac{V_i}{n_i}=\frac{V_f}{n_f} \\ & \frac{3}{1.79}=\frac{5}{n_f}\end{aligned}$

Thus, $n_f=3$ moles

Example 3: At 300 K, a sample of 3.0 g of gas A occupies the same volume as 0.2 g of hydrogen at 200 K at the same pressure. The molar mass of gas A is_____________g mol-1. (nearest integer) Assume that the behavior of gases is ideal.

(Given: The molar mass of hydrogen (H2) gas is 2.0 g mol-1.)

1) 45

2)35

3)44

4)46

Solution

Let the molar mass of $\mathrm{A}=\mathrm{M}_{\mathrm{A}}$

Given, A and $\mathrm{H}_2$ occupy the same volume at the same pressure.

$\mathrm{V}_{\mathrm{A}}=\mathrm{V}_{\mathrm{H}_2}$

So, from the ideal gas equation, we have

$\begin{aligned} & \frac{\mathrm{n}_{\mathrm{A}} \mathrm{RT}_1}{\mathrm{P}}=\frac{\mathrm{n}_{\mathrm{H}_2} \mathrm{RT}_2}{\mathrm{P}} \\ & \Rightarrow 300 \times \mathrm{n}_{\mathrm{A}}=\mathrm{n}_{\mathrm{H}_2} \times 200 \\ & \Rightarrow 300 \times \frac{3.0 \mathrm{~g}}{\mathrm{M}_{\mathrm{A}}}=\frac{0.2 \mathrm{~g}}{2.0 \mathrm{~g} / \mathrm{mol}} \times 200 \\ & \Rightarrow \mathrm{M}_{\mathrm{A}}=30 \times \frac{3}{2} \mathrm{~g} / \mathrm{mol} \\ & \Rightarrow \mathrm{M}_{\mathrm{A}}=45 \mathrm{~g} / \mathrm{mol}\end{aligned}$

Hence, the answer is (45).

Example 4: A and B are two identical vessels. A contains 15g Ethane at 1atm and 298K. The vessel B contains 75g of a gas $X_2$ at same temperature and pressure. The vapour density of $X_2$ is :

1) 75

2)150

3)37.5

4)45

Solution

As we learnt in Avogadro’s Law that Volume - Mole relationship can be written as follows:

$\frac{V_1}{n_1}=\frac{V_2}{n_2}$

(Since $V_1$ and $V_2$ are equal as the vessels are identical)

$\begin{aligned} & \Rightarrow \frac{V}{n_1}=\frac{V}{n_2} \\ & \Rightarrow n_1=n_2 \\ & \Rightarrow \frac{w_1}{M_1}=\frac{w_2}{M_2}\end{aligned}$

w1 = 15 , w2 = 75

The molar mass of ethane M1 = 30,

$\begin{aligned} & \Rightarrow \frac{15}{30}=\frac{75}{M_B} \\ & M_B=150\end{aligned}$
$(V \cdot D)_B=\frac{150}{2}=75$

Example 5: A cylinder with a movable piston contains 2 g of helium, He, at room temperature. More helium was added to the cylinder and the volume was adjusted so that the gas pressure remained the same. How many grams of helium were added to the cylinder if the volume (in g) was changed from 2 L to 2.7 L?

1)27

2)4.3

3)3.7

4) 0.7

Solution

We have,
Amount of He = 2g
Thus, moles of He = 2/4 = 0.5 moles
Initial volume(Vi) = 2 L
Final volume(Vf) = 2.7 L
Now, according to Avogadro’s law, we have

$\frac{V_i}{n_i}=\frac{V_f}{n_f}$

$\frac{2}{0.5}=\frac{2.7}{n_f}$

Total moles of He present in the cylinder

nf = 0.675 moles

Thus the total amount of He = moles X molar mass.

So, the total amount of He = $0.675 \times 4=2.7 g$

Added amount = total amount - initial amount

Added amount = 2.7 - 2 = 0.7 g

Hence, 0.7 g of He is further added.

Summary

Gay-Lussac's Law describes the direct relationship of pressure with temperature for a gas at constant volume. In other words, the pressure and temperature are directly related to a constant volume. The law is formulated by Joseph Louis Gay-Lussac. It states that at constant volume, the pressure of a gas will increase if there is an increase in the temperature and decrease if there is a decrease in the temperature. .

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. What is Avogadro's Law?
Avogadro's Law states that equal volumes of all gases at the same temperature and pressure contain the same number of molecules. This means that the volume of a gas is directly proportional to the number of moles of the gas, assuming temperature and pressure remain constant.
2. How does Avogadro's Law relate to the ideal gas equation?
Avogadro's Law is incorporated into the ideal gas equation (PV = nRT) through the variable 'n', which represents the number of moles of gas. The law shows that when temperature (T) and pressure (P) are constant, volume (V) is directly proportional to the number of moles (n).
3. Why is Avogadro's Law important in chemistry?
Avogadro's Law is crucial in chemistry because it allows us to predict gas behavior, calculate gas volumes in chemical reactions, and understand the relationship between the number of gas particles and their volume. It forms the basis for many stoichiometric calculations involving gases.
4. What is Avogadro's number, and how does it relate to Avogadro's Law?
Avogadro's number is approximately 6.022 x 10^23, representing the number of particles in one mole of a substance. While Avogadro's Law deals with the relationship between gas volume and number of moles, Avogadro's number helps us understand the scale of particles involved in these gas laws.
5. How does changing the volume of a gas affect the number of molecules according to Avogadro's Law?
According to Avogadro's Law, changing the volume of a gas directly affects the number of molecules, assuming temperature and pressure remain constant. If you double the volume, you double the number of molecules. If you halve the volume, you halve the number of molecules.
6. Can Avogadro's Law be applied to liquids and solids?
No, Avogadro's Law applies only to gases. Liquids and solids have fixed volumes that don't change significantly with pressure, unlike gases which are highly compressible. The law assumes ideal gas behavior, which is not applicable to condensed phases of matter.
7. What is the mathematical formula for Avogadro's Law?
The mathematical formula for Avogadro's Law is V₁/n₁ = V₂/n₂, where V represents volume and n represents the number of moles. This equation shows that the ratio of volume to the number of moles remains constant for a gas at constant temperature and pressure.
8. How does Avogadro's Law help in understanding gas density?
Avogadro's Law helps us understand that equal volumes of different gases at the same temperature and pressure contain the same number of molecules. This means that differences in gas densities are due to differences in molecular mass, not the number of molecules present.
9. What assumptions are made in Avogadro's Law?
Avogadro's Law assumes ideal gas behavior, which means: 1) Gas particles have negligible volume, 2) There are no attractive or repulsive forces between particles, 3) All collisions between particles are perfectly elastic, and 4) The average kinetic energy of gas particles is directly proportional to the absolute temperature.
10. How does Avogadro's Law differ from Boyle's Law and Charles's Law?
While all three are gas laws, they focus on different relationships. Avogadro's Law relates volume to the number of moles, Boyle's Law relates pressure to volume, and Charles's Law relates volume to temperature. Avogadro's Law keeps temperature and pressure constant, unlike the other two.
11. Can you use Avogadro's Law to compare volumes of gases at different pressures or temperatures?
No, Avogadro's Law only applies when temperature and pressure are constant. To compare gas volumes at different pressures or temperatures, you would need to use a combination of gas laws or the ideal gas equation.
12. How does Avogadro's Law support the concept of stoichiometry in gas reactions?
Avogadro's Law supports stoichiometry in gas reactions by establishing that equal volumes of gases contain equal numbers of molecules. This allows chemists to relate the volumes of gases consumed or produced in a reaction directly to their molar ratios in the balanced chemical equation.
13. What is the significance of the term "molar volume" in relation to Avogadro's Law?
Molar volume is the volume occupied by one mole of a gas at a specific temperature and pressure. Avogadro's Law implies that all gases have the same molar volume under the same conditions, which is approximately 22.4 L at standard temperature and pressure (STP).
14. How does Avogadro's Law explain why gases diffuse and mix readily?
Avogadro's Law implies that gases with equal volumes have the same number of molecules, regardless of their identity. This equal number of molecules leads to similar average distances between particles, allowing gases to diffuse and mix easily, regardless of their molecular mass.
15. What is the relationship between Avogadro's Law and Gay-Lussac's Law of Combining Volumes?
Avogadro's Law provides the theoretical basis for Gay-Lussac's Law of Combining Volumes. It explains why gases react in simple, whole-number ratios of volumes - because these volume ratios correspond to the molar ratios of the reacting molecules.
16. How does Avogadro's Law help in understanding the concept of partial pressures in gas mixtures?
Avogadro's Law helps us understand that in a mixture of gases at constant temperature and pressure, each gas occupies a volume proportional to its number of moles. This forms the basis for Dalton's Law of Partial Pressures, where the total pressure is the sum of individual gas pressures.
17. Can Avogadro's Law be used to predict the volume of gas produced in a chemical reaction?
Yes, Avogadro's Law can be used to predict the volume of gas produced in a reaction if the number of moles of gas produced is known. By using the relationship that equal moles of gases occupy equal volumes under the same conditions, we can calculate the volume of gas produced.
18. How does the concept of STP (Standard Temperature and Pressure) relate to Avogadro's Law?
STP provides a standard set of conditions (0°C and 1 atm) for comparing gas volumes. At STP, one mole of any ideal gas occupies 22.4 L, a direct application of Avogadro's Law. This standard molar volume is crucial for many gas-related calculations in chemistry.
19. What is the limitation of Avogadro's Law at very high pressures or very low temperatures?
At very high pressures or very low temperatures, gases deviate from ideal behavior. The assumptions of Avogadro's Law (based on the ideal gas model) break down, as intermolecular forces become significant and the volume of gas particles can no longer be considered negligible.
20. How does Avogadro's Law help explain why the density of a gas is proportional to its molar mass?
Avogadro's Law states that equal volumes of gases contain equal numbers of molecules. Since density is mass per unit volume, and equal volumes contain the same number of molecules, the density difference between gases must be due to their different molar masses.
21. What role does Avogadro's Law play in the development of the kinetic molecular theory of gases?
Avogadro's Law supports the kinetic molecular theory by confirming that equal volumes of gases contain equal numbers of molecules. This aligns with the theory's assumption that gas properties depend on the number and behavior of gas particles, not their chemical identity.
22. How can Avogadro's Law be used to explain why gases are so compressible compared to liquids and solids?
Avogadro's Law implies that gases have large spaces between molecules, which can be reduced under pressure. Liquids and solids have much less space between particles, making them less compressible. This explains the high compressibility of gases compared to condensed phases.
23. What is the relationship between Avogadro's Law and Graham's Law of Diffusion?
While Avogadro's Law deals with the number of molecules in a given volume, Graham's Law relates to the rate of diffusion of gases. However, both laws assume ideal gas behavior and help explain gas properties based on molecular behavior rather than the identity of the gas.
24. How does Avogadro's Law help in understanding the concept of vapor pressure?
Avogadro's Law helps explain why vapor pressure is independent of the amount of liquid present. The number of gas molecules in the space above a liquid (which determines vapor pressure) depends on temperature, not on the amount of liquid, as long as some liquid is present.
25. Can Avogadro's Law be applied to non-ideal gases? If so, under what conditions?
Avogadro's Law can be applied to non-ideal gases, but only as an approximation. The law works best for gases at low pressures and high temperatures, conditions under which most gases behave more ideally. As gases approach ideal behavior, Avogadro's Law becomes more accurate.
26. How does Avogadro's Law relate to the concept of molarity in solution chemistry?
While Avogadro's Law primarily applies to gases, its concept of relating the number of particles to volume is similar to molarity in solutions. Molarity (moles of solute per liter of solution) uses the same principle of relating the number of particles to a volume, but in a liquid context.
27. What is the significance of Avogadro's Law in understanding the composition of the atmosphere?
Avogadro's Law helps us understand that the volume percentages of gases in the atmosphere directly correspond to their molecular percentages. This is crucial for interpreting atmospheric composition data and understanding phenomena like greenhouse effects and air pollution.
28. How does Avogadro's Law contribute to our understanding of gas chromatography?
In gas chromatography, Avogadro's Law helps explain why different gases with the same number of moles occupy the same volume in the mobile phase. This allows for the separation and analysis of gas mixtures based on their interaction with the stationary phase, not their volume.
29. What is the relationship between Avogadro's Law and the ideal gas constant (R)?
The ideal gas constant (R) in the ideal gas equation (PV = nRT) incorporates Avogadro's Law. R is derived from the volume occupied by one mole of an ideal gas at STP, which is a direct consequence of Avogadro's Law stating that equal volumes of gases contain equal numbers of molecules.
30. How does Avogadro's Law help in understanding the concept of gas solubility?
Avogadro's Law helps explain why the solubility of gases in liquids is often expressed in terms of volume of gas dissolved per volume of liquid. Since equal volumes of gases contain equal numbers of molecules, this volume ratio directly relates to the number of gas molecules dissolved.
31. Can Avogadro's Law be used to explain why helium balloons rise in air?
Yes, Avogadro's Law helps explain this phenomenon. Equal volumes of helium and air contain the same number of molecules, but helium molecules are lighter than average air molecules. This makes helium less dense than air, causing helium-filled balloons to rise.
32. How does Avogadro's Law relate to the concept of standard molar volume?
Standard molar volume (22.4 L/mol at STP) is a direct application of Avogadro's Law. It represents the volume occupied by one mole of any ideal gas under standard conditions, illustrating that equal numbers of gas molecules (1 mole) occupy equal volumes regardless of the gas identity.
33. What role does Avogadro's Law play in understanding the greenhouse effect?
Avogadro's Law helps us understand that small concentrations of greenhouse gases can have significant effects. Even though these gases make up a small percentage of the atmosphere by volume, they contain a proportional number of molecules capable of absorbing and re-emitting infrared radiation.
34. How does Avogadro's Law help explain why gas pressure increases with altitude?
Avogadro's Law doesn't directly explain this, but it helps us understand that the number of gas molecules per unit volume decreases with altitude. This decrease in molecular density, combined with other gas laws, explains the decrease in pressure as altitude increases.
35. What is the significance of Avogadro's Law in understanding gas adsorption processes?
Avogadro's Law helps in interpreting gas adsorption data. When gases adsorb onto surfaces, the volume of gas adsorbed (at constant T and P) is directly proportional to the number of molecules adsorbed, allowing for quantitative analysis of adsorption processes.
36. How does Avogadro's Law contribute to our understanding of gas-phase reactions in chemical engineering?
In chemical engineering, Avogadro's Law is crucial for designing and scaling up gas-phase reactors. It allows engineers to relate the volumes of reactant and product gases directly to the number of moles, simplifying calculations for reaction stoichiometry and reactor sizing.
37. Can Avogadro's Law be applied to gases dissolved in liquids?
Avogadro's Law doesn't directly apply to dissolved gases, as they are not in the gas phase. However, the principle helps in understanding Henry's Law, which describes gas solubility. The amount of dissolved gas is proportional to its partial pressure above the liquid, reflecting a similar volume-to-mole relationship.
38. How does Avogadro's Law relate to the concept of gas density at different altitudes?
Avogadro's Law helps explain why gas density decreases with altitude. As pressure decreases with height, the volume occupied by a given number of gas molecules increases (according to Boyle's Law). Avogadro's Law then implies that the number of molecules per unit volume (density) must decrease.
39. What is the relationship between Avogadro's Law and the concept of mean free path in gases?
Avogadro's Law indirectly relates to mean free path. Since equal volumes of gases contain equal numbers of molecules, gases with larger molecular sizes will have shorter mean free paths. This concept is important in understanding gas behavior and phenomena like diffusion rates.
40. How does Avogadro's Law help in understanding the behavior of gas mixtures in chemical reactions?
Avogadro's Law is crucial in understanding gas mixture reactions. It allows us to relate the volume ratios of reacting gases to their molar ratios, simplifying stoichiometric calculations. This is particularly useful in combustion reactions and other gas-phase processes.
41. Can Avogadro's Law be used to explain why certain gases are used in weather balloons?
Yes, Avogadro's Law helps explain the choice of gases for weather balloons. Gases like helium or hydrogen are used because, for the same volume and pressure, they contain the same number of molecules as air but have a much lower molecular weight, making the balloon buoyant.
42. How does Avogadro's Law contribute to our understanding of gas effusion rates?
While Avogadro's Law doesn't directly describe effusion rates, it provides a foundation for understanding Graham's Law of Effusion. By establishing that equal volumes of gases contain equal numbers of molecules, it allows us to focus on the effect of molecular mass on effusion rates.
43. What is the significance of Avogadro's Law in understanding the concept of partial molar volume in solution thermodynamics?
Avogadro's Law's concept of relating volume to the number of particles extends to partial molar volume in solutions. Just as gases of equal moles occupy equal volumes, the partial molar volume represents the volume change when adding a mole of solute to a large volume of solution.
44. How does Avogadro's Law help in explaining the behavior of gases in porous materials like zeolites?
Avogadro's Law helps explain gas behavior in porous materials by relating the volume of gas adsorbed to the number of molecules. This is crucial in understanding gas separation processes, where different gases may be selectively adsorbed based on their molecular properties.
45. Can Avogadro's Law be applied to understand gas behavior in biological systems, such as in the lungs during respiration?
While biological systems are complex, Avogadro's Law helps explain gas exchange in lungs. It supports the understanding that the volume of oxygen entering the bloodstream is proportional to the number of oxygen molecules, which is crucial for modeling respiratory gas exchange.
46. How does Avogadro's Law contribute to our understanding of gas solubility in blood and other biological fluids?
Avogadro's Law helps explain why gas solubility in blood is often expressed in terms of volume of gas per volume of blood. Since equal volumes of gases contain equal numbers of molecules, this volume ratio directly relates to the number of gas molecules

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