AP Chem Unit 1: Gas Laws and Stoichiometry
Mr. Hinton 2/3
Josh and David, Wallace and Kolb
[Preal + a(n/V)2][ Vreal -bn] = nRT
Name:
PV = nRT
1. Glycerol trinitrate, or nitroglycerin, is used in many military explosives. It is subject to
spontaneous self-reaction. This means that- unlike other combustion reactions about which we have
learned- it will not require oxygen.
A. By mass it is found that nitroglycerin contains 15.87% carbon, 2.22% hydrogen, 63.41% oxygen,
and 18.51% nitrogen. What is its empirical formula?
B. Knowing that nitroglycerin is self-reacting, meaning it needs no other reactants, write out a
balanced equation. [Hint: products are CO2, H2O, N2, and O2 (all in gas form)]
C. Knowing that all products will be gaseous due to the intense heat the explosion, how many moles
of gas are produced from 1 mol of nitroglycerin?
2. It is a little known fact that chemists are in high demand for military Special Ops. Their vast
knowledge of explosives and gas laws make them ideal for blowing up caves in Iraq. The following
scenario is what many Special Ops chemists may encounter during their search for Osama.
Satellite imaging shows a highly elaborate system of caves in a mountain and you have been sent to
cause irreparable damage to it. It is found to have a volume of 10840 L and you know that the
ground temperature in the area is 30 degrees Celsius.
A. Assuming that the cave is sealed and maintains a constant volume and the explosion heats the
gas to 227 Celsius, what mass of nitroglycerin would you need to detonate in this area to double the
atmospheric pressure in the cave?
B. After hearing the noise of the explosion it is certain that the cooks in the adjoining compartment
to the 10840 L would open their door. The volume of this compartment is only 2500 L but because
of the cooking equipment used in this section, the temperature is an entire 4 degrees Celsius hotter
than ground temperature. The system is now 490 degrees Celsius. What is the pressure of the
system now?
C. Because there is of the difference in gases present in each compartment there will be much
diffusion across the two chambers. Compare the rates of diffusion of CO2 and N2.
D. What is the rms speed of the slower of the two gases?
3. Unfortunately for the cave dwellers, during the explosion, methane [CH4] from the rather primitive
stoves in the kitchen has now leaked into the room. Because of the heat and the presence of the O2,
a new combustion reaction takes place.
CH4 + 2O2  CO2 + 2H2O
If 300 g of methane is present along with only the amount of oxygen created from the selfcombustion of the nitroglycerin, which is the limiting reactant of the new combustion reaction?
4. Use the following values of A and B with the van der Waals equation.
Gas
CH4
N2
A [L2*atm/mol2]
2.25
1.39
B [L/mol]
.0428
.0391
A. Which molecule is bigger? Briefly explain how you know.
B. Which molecule displays more intermolecular attraction? Briefly explain how you know.
C. What is the difference between actual and ideal pressures of methane in a sealed container with
volume of 3.5 L, 192 g of methane, at 25 degrees Celsius?