Flinn’s Exploring Chemistry™—Gases and the Gas Laws Package

Introduction

The best experiments to teach the core principles of the gases and the gas laws are all here in this Flinn’s Exploring Chemistry™ package! Gases are colorless and odorless—help students understand important concepts that cannot be seen. Two demonstrations, three experiments and one POGIL™ activity illustrate a variety of techniques for the preparation of gases and reveal the unique physical and chemical properties of common gases.

Concepts

• Atmospheric pressure
• Boyle’s law
• Density of gases
• Kinetic–molecular theory
• Charles’s law

Background

What’s in this Gases and the Gas Laws Package?

Your package includes enough chemicals and specialty equipment to perform the lab and learning activities listed. Quantities of chemicals are sufficient for three classes of 30 students working in pairs! Instructions for all activities may be found in Chemistry of Gases, Volume 8, and The Gas Laws, Volume 9 in the Flinn ChemTopic™ Labs series, which are included in the package. Student handouts for each activity may be reproduced for classroom use. Comprehensive instructions and teacher notes, with real sample data and answers to all questions, are also provided for each activity. All of the lab activities were created under the direction of the Flinn Scientific Curriculum Advisory Board of master teachers and then tested and retested to optimize safety and success. These activities truly are the best of the best!

The following activities may be performed in any order. One possible lesson plan is described.

• Common Gases (Experiment)
• Boyle’s Law (Experiment)
• Charles’s Law (Experiment)
• Gas Variables (POGIL™ Activity)
• Collapsing Can (Demonstration)
• Flaming Vapor Ramp (Demonstration)

Experiment Overview

Common Gases
It’s easy for students to overlook the chemistry of gases—after all, many gases are colorless and odorless. In this experiment, students will explore the chemical and physical properties of five gases.

Boyle’s Law in a Bottle
A super value! You can use the materials over and over again, in addition, set them up as an activities station lab with the materials from Charles’s Law and students will all have the opportunity to explore both gas laws in one lab period. Students can set up the materials included and determine the relationship between the volume and pressure of air.

Charles’s Law and Absolute Zero
Another super value! The materials can be used over and over again and set-up with Boyle’s Law materials to create activity stations. Students determine the relationship between the temperature and volume of gases, such as air, hydrogen, helium and nitrogen (gas sources not included).

Gas Variables
One of the best methods for students to grasp concepts is question asking and answering. Students will explore the four variables that quantify gases—pressure (P), volume (V), temperature (T) and moles (n) of gas. These variables can be related mathematically so predictions about gas behavior can be made.

Collapsing Can
Prove to students what air pressure is by crushing a can with it right before their eyes! Pressure—we all feel it. But what is it? Se up the collapsing can demo by driving air out of it, capping it and then showing how the surrounding air exerts pressure on it. Students will grasp how powerful air pressure really is!

Flaming Vapor Ramp
Students love watching this demonstration! More importantly, they will learn an important chemistry and safety lesson—vapors are flammable. Vapors from volatile, flammable liquids are generally heavier than air and can travel along countertop to an ignition source. Once vapors have been ignited, their flames will quickly follow the vapor trail back to the vapor source and may result in a very large fire.

Materials