Fluorine exerts a pressure of 1.2 atm on a piston. When the pressure is changed to 1.1 atm, its volume is 556.1 mL. What was the original volume in mL? Solve the the nearest two decimal places.

509.7583 mL ≅ 509.76 mL.

Explanation:

We can use the general law of ideal gas: PV = nRT.

where, P is the pressure of the gas in atm.

V is the volume of the gas in L.

n is the no. of moles of the gas in mol.

R is the general gas constant,

T is the temperature of the gas in K.

If n and T are constant, and have different values of P and V:

(P₁V₁) = (P₂V₂)

P₁ = 1.2 atm, V₁ = ? mL.

P₂ = 1.1 atm, V₂ = 556.1 mL.

∴ V₁ = (P₂V₂) / (P₁) = (1.1 atm) (556.1 mL) / (1.2 atm) = 509.7583 mL ≅ 509.76 mL.