Calculate Volumes of Gases (Edexcel IGCSE Chemistry)

Revision Note

Stewart

Author

Stewart

Expertise

Chemistry Lead

Calculate Volumes of Gases

Avogadro's Law

  • Avogadro’s Law states that at the same conditions of temperature and pressure, equal amounts of gases occupy the same volume of space
  • At room temperature and pressure, the volume occupied by one mole of any gas was found to be 24 dm3 or 24,000 cm3
  • This is known as the molar gas volume at RTP
  • RTP stands for “room temperature and pressure” and the conditions are 20 ºC and 1 atmosphere (atm)
  • From the molar gas volume the following formula triangle can be derived:

Molar Volume dm3 (decimetre) Formula Triangle, IGCSE & GCSE Chemistry revision notes

Formula triangle showing the relationship between moles of gas, volume in dm3 and the molar volume

  • If the volume is given in cm3 instead of dm3, then divide by 24,000 instead of 24:

Molar Volume cm3 Formula Triangle, IGCSE & GCSE Chemistry revision notes

Formula triangle showing the relationship between moles of gas, volume in cmand the molar volume

  • The formula can be used to calculate the number of moles of gases from a given volume or vice versa
  • Simply cover the one you want and the triangle tells you what to do

To find the volume

Volume = Moles x Molar Volume

Examples of Converting Moles into Volumes Table

Name of Gas Amount of Gas Volume of Gas
Hydrogen 3 mol (3 x 24) = 72 dm3
Carbon Dioxide 0.25 mol (0.25 x 24) = 6 dm3
Oxygen 5.4 mol (5.4 x 24,000) = 129,600 cm3
Ammonia 0.02 mol (0.02 x 24) = 0.48 dm3

To find the moles

Moles = Volume ÷ Molar Volume

Examples of Converting Volumes into Moles Table

Name of Gas Volume of Gas Amount of Gas
Methane 225.6 dm3 (225.6 ÷ 24) = 9.4 mol
Carbon Monoxide 7.2 dm3 (7.2 ÷ 24) = 0.3 mol
Sulfur Dioxide 960 dm3 (960 ÷ 24) = 40 mol
Oxygen 1200 cm3 (1200 ÷ 24,000) = 0.05 mol

You've read 0 of your 0 free revision notes

Get unlimited access

to absolutely everything:

  • Downloadable PDFs
  • Unlimited Revision Notes
  • Topic Questions
  • Past Papers
  • Model Answers
  • Videos (Maths and Science)

Join the 100,000+ Students that ❤️ Save My Exams

the (exam) results speak for themselves:

Did this page help you?

Stewart

Author: Stewart

Stewart has been an enthusiastic GCSE, IGCSE, A Level and IB teacher for more than 30 years in the UK as well as overseas, and has also been an examiner for IB and A Level. As a long-standing Head of Science, Stewart brings a wealth of experience to creating Topic Questions and revision materials for Save My Exams. Stewart specialises in Chemistry, but has also taught Physics and Environmental Systems and Societies.

Join over 500 thousand students
getting better grades