The Effects of Temperature on Density of Gases

The density of a gas is dependent on the temperature. When temperatures rise, the gas expands and becomes less dense. When temperatures fall, the gas contracts and becomes more dense.

Function

Heat makes molecules travel at higher speeds and have more kinetic energy than they do at lower temperatures.

Formula

When you know which gas you are dealing with, you can use the ideal gas equation to determine the volume (V), temperature (T), number of molecules (N), pressure (P) or gas constant (R) with the equation R =(P x V) / (N x T).

Weather

Pressure systems are dependent on the density of the gases in the atmosphere. Low pressure systems are made up of low density air, which is cooler, while high density systems are made up of warmer air.

Condensation

When the temperature of a gas drops low enough, the gas will condense into a solid. If there is a drastic drop in temperature the gas could turn into a solid through the process of deposition.

Considerations

The density of a gas is also determined by what element the gas is. For example, hydrogen gas has a lower atomic number so it will be less dense than oxygen at the same temperature.

References

• Phase Transitions
• Ideal Gas Equation
• Density of Gases