Determination of the Universal Gas Constant, R. A Discovery Laboratory

Kathleen Cornely
Department of Chemistry, Providence College, Providence, RI 02918-0001
David B. Moss
Moses Brown School, Providence, RI 02906
J. Chem. Educ., 2001, 78 (9), p 1260
DOI: 10.1021/ed078p1260
Publication Date (Web): September 1, 2001

Abstract

This experiment combines published procedures for the generation of three gases (hydrogen, nitrogen, and oxygen) and adapts them so that they can be used with a single gas-generation and collection apparatus. Working in collaborative groups, students determine density and number density for each gas. By comparing values for these two quantities in a post-lab discussion, students "discover" Avogadro's assertion that equal volumes contain equal numbers of particles and demonstrate that R has a single value for all three gases under consideration and so is truly a universal constant.

Keywords (Audience):

High School / Introductory Chemistry

Keywords (Domain):

Laboratory Instruction

Keywords (Feature):

Chemical Principles Revisited

Keywords (Pedagogy):

Collaborative / Cooperative Learning

Keywords (Subject):

Gases
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History

  • Received: August 03, 2009

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