How this calculator works
- Step 1Chooseone unknownPressure, volume, amount or temperature.
- Step 2Convert°C + 273.15Temperature must be in kelvin.
- Step 3RearrangePV = nRTkPa × L gives joules directly.
The ideal gas law links a gas’s pressure, volume, amount and temperature. Knowing any three gives the fourth.
R is the molar gas constant, 8.314 462 618 J/(mol·K), exact in today’s SI units because it is the Avogadro constant times the Boltzmann constant.
Worked example: molar volume at 0 °C
- V
n R T ÷ P
- Temperature0 + 273.15273.15 K
- n R T1 × 8.3145 × 273.152,271.10 J
- Volume2,271.10 ÷ 101.32522.4140 L
Read the result
- 0 °C22.4140 LThe classic 22.4 L per mole.
- 25 °C24.4654 LWarmer gas expands in proportion to kelvin.
Heated gas in a closed container builds pressure: 0.5 mol in 2 L at 100 °C reaches 775.6354 kPa. A 10 L tank at 200 kPa and 27 °C holds 0.8014 mol.
Assumptions and limits
- Low pressureBest near atmospheric pressure.
- Warm gasesFails near condensation.
- Absolute unitsAbsolute pressure, kelvin temperature.
- No mixtures rulen is the total moles of all gases.
Related chemistry tools
The gas law needs moles. Molar mass and solution strength are the neighbouring sums.
To turn grams of a gas into moles, use the molecular weight calculator. For solutions, try the molarity calculator, and for heat to warm a substance, the specific heat calculator.
Common mistakes
Mistake: Using °C in the formula.
Instead: Add 273.15 for kelvin; the tool does this.
Mistake: Using gauge pressure from a tyre gauge.
Instead: Add atmospheric pressure (about 101 kPa).
Mistake: Mixing kPa with m³.
Instead: kPa with litres, or Pa with m³.
Checking the method
A separate script solves every case molecule by molecule, PV = NkT with the Boltzmann constant, in exact fractions.
Read how we test our calculators, or browse more maths calculators.