MadSci Network: Chemistry
Query:

Re: MATTER - MEASURING AIR

Date: Thu Feb 25 16:06:13 1999
Posted By: Jared Dell, Grad student, Chemical Engineering + BS in Chemistry, Student
Area of science: Chemistry
ID: 915076918.Ch
Message:

Air can be measured several ways.  If you want to measure the 
mass of air in a room or a specific volume you need to define several 
variables.  You can calculate the mass of air by the ideal gas law.  PV = 
nRT or in terms of mass, m = PV(mw)/RT.  Any General Chemistry book will 
have documentation on the ideal gas law.  Check your local library.

P = Pressure in atmospheres (atm)
V = Volume of the container/room in Liters (L)
n = moles of gas

R = 0.0821 (liters * Atm/Moles* Kelvin)
T = Temperature in Kelvin = 273.15 + (Temperature in Celsius)  
mw = molecular weight.  For air, this value is estimated to be 29 grams/ 
Mole.

The calculated mass would have units of grams.
If this is not what you were looking for please let me know.  Good Luck!



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