Most Bic lighters hold 5.0ml of liquified butane (density = 0.60 g/ml). Calculate the minimum size container you would need to "catch" all of the butane (from a lighter) at room conditions, if you released all of the butane from the lighter.

Volume of container = 0.0012 m³ or 1.2 L or 1200 ml

Explanation:

Volume of butane = 5.0 ml

density = 0.60 g/ml

Room temperature (T) = 293.15 K

Normal pressure (P) = 1 atm = 101,325 pa

Ideal gas constant (R) = 8.3145 J/mole. K)

volume of container V = ?

Solution

To find out the volume of container we use ideal gas equation

PV = nRT

P = pressure

V = volume

n = number of moles

R = gas constant

T = temperature

First we find out number of moles

As Mass = density * volume

mass of butane = 0.60 g/ml * 5.0 ml

mass of butane = 3 g

now find out number of moles (n)

n = mass / molar mass

n = 3 g / 58.12 g/mol

n = 0.05 mol

Now put all values in ideal gas equation

PV = nRt

V = nRT/P

V = (0.05 mol * 8.3145 J/mol. K * 293.15 K) : 101,325 pa

V = 121.87 : 101,325 pa

V = 0.0012 m³ OR 1.2 L OR 1200 ml