Chapter 13, Problem 12A

Interpretation Introduction

Interpretation:

Whether Charles’s law can be used to determine absolute zero has to be explained.

Concept Introduction:

Charles’s law: The volume of a given amount of gas is proportional to its temperature (in K) of the gas at constant pressure.

The relationship between volume of a gas and temperature is expressed as-

  $\begin{array}{l}V\propto T\\ \mathrm{or},\frac{V}{T}=Constant\end{array}$ When P is constant.

Answer to Problem 12A

If the lines in volume vs. temperature in Kelvin graph extrapolate to zero volume at the same temperature which is -273 °C. This temperature -273 °C is the lowest possible thermodynamic temperature when when the volume of a gas is zero. Therefore, this temperature is defined as absolute zero on the Kelvin scale which is derived from the Charles’s law.

Explanation of Solution

Charles’s law: The volume of a given amount of gas is proportional to its temperature (in K) of the gas at constant pressure.

The relationship between volume of a gas and temperature is expressed as-

  $\begin{array}{l}V\propto T\\ \mathrm{or},\frac{V}{T}=Constant\end{array}$ When P is constant.

  

If the lines in volume vs. temperature in Kelvin graph extrapolate to zero volume at the same temperature which is -273 °C. This temperature -273 °C is the lowest possible thermodynamic temperature when when the volume of a gas is zero. Therefore, this temperature is defined as absolute zero on the Kelvin scale which is derived from the Charles’s law.