Activity 1

Getting to Know Gases

Objective:
Prove that gases have the following properties: mass, volume, temperature, and pressure.

Materials:

For Activity A: For Activity C:

Pipette and aspirator or syringe Erlenmeyer flask match

100-mL graduated cylinder alcohol lamp
200 mL water tripod
20 mL cooking oil wire gauze
For Activity B:
Thermometer (360°C)
Alcohol lamp
Tripod
Wire gauze
Match
Ice
500-mL beaker
B. Gases and Its Volume

1. Put approximately 50.0 mL of water in the graduated cylinder.

2. Cover the water with cooking oil up to approximately 70.0 ml. Let the oil
settle at the top of the water.

3. Dip the tip of the pipette in the water-oil mixture until it reaches the water portion of the mixture. Carefully
press the aspirator at the other end of the pipette to introduce air in the mixture. A syringe can be used as a
substitute for pipette.

4. Carefully remove the pipet from the water-oil mixture. Read the final volume after introducing air in the
water-oil mixture.

5. Perform three trials and write your data on Table 2.

Table 2. Data for the Volume of Air Trapped in the Water-Oil Mixture

Trial Volume of water plus Total volume when air Difference in mass
oil (ml) was introduced (mL) (Inflated-deflated) (mL)
1.
2.
3.
Average
Q1. What happens to the volume reading of the water-oil mixture when air is introduced to it?
Q2. What does it indicate?
 3
C. Gases and Its Temperature

1. Pour approximately 150 mL of water in a beaker or any tin can.

2. Measure the initial temperature of the air just above the water level.

3. Fill the beaker with crushed ice up to the water level. After 5 minutes, measure the temperature of the air
just above the water level.

4. Assemble the wire gauze, tripod, and alcohol lamp. Set aside the iced water. Replace the content of the
beaker with tap water. Place the beaker with water on the wire gauze.

5. Heat the water until it boils and get the temperature of the air just above the water level.
6. Perform three trials and write your data on Table 3.
Table 3. Temperature of Water Vapour
Trial Temperature of the Air (°C)
Initial (room Above the ice water Above the boiling water
temperature)
1
2
3
Average

Note: Use the boiling water for the next set-up.

Q1. Is there a difference in the temperature of air among the three set-ups?
Q2. Explain the difference in temperature of air.

D. Gases and Its Pressure

1. Transfer the hot water into the Erlenmeyer flask.
2. Carefully place the inflated balloon on the mouth of the Erlenmeyer flask
With hot water. Observe what happens.

Q1. What happens to the inflated balloon?

Q2. What causes this phenomenon?
3. Remove the inflated balloon from the Erlenmeyer flask.
4. Get a deflated balloon and place it at the mouth of the Erlenmeyer flask.
5. Assemble the wire gauze, tripod, and alcohol lamp. Heat the Erlenmeyer flask with a deflated balloon.

Q3. What happens to the shape of the balloon?

Q4. What causes the balloon to change its shape and size?