Question

Aerosol cans have a label that warns the user not to use them above a certain temperature and not to dispose of them by incineration. Even an empty can contains residual gaseous propellant. For example, the residual pressure in a can is 1.51 atm when it is sitting on a shelf at 23 ∘C. If the can is placed on top of the furnace where the temperature reaches the boiling point of water, what is the pressure inside the can?

Answer 1

Answer:

1.40 atm

To answer this question we can use Gay-Lussac's law, which states:

P₁T₂=P₂T₁

When volume and number of moles remain constant.

P₁ = 1.11 atm

T₁ = 23°C ⇒ 23+273.16 = 296.16 K

T₂ = Boiling point of water = 100 °C ⇒ 100+273.16 = 373.16 K

P₂ = ?

We put the known data in the equation and solve for P₂:

1.11 atm * 373.16 K = P₂ * 296.16 K

P₂ = 1.40 atm