Why is it important to convert into units of Kelvin before using the Ideal gas law?
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It is important to convert into units of Kelvin before using the Ideal gas law because the law requires the temperature to be in Kelvin for accurate calculations. The Kelvin scale is an absolute temperature scale where 0 Kelvin represents absolute zero, the point at which all molecular motion ceases. In contrast, the Celsius and Fahrenheit scales have their zero points based on arbitrary reference points.
The Ideal gas law, expressed as PV = nRT, relates the pressure (P), volume (V), temperature (T), and amount of gas (n) of an ideal gas. The relationship between these variables is directly proportional, meaning that any change in one variable will affect the others. However, this relationship only holds true if the temperature is measured in Kelvin.
Converting temperature into Kelvin is necessary because Kelvin is the scale that directly relates to the average kinetic energy of gas molecules. The temperature in Kelvin is obtained by adding 273.15 to the temperature in Celsius. By using Kelvin, we ensure that the absolute temperature is being used in the calculations and that they are based on the movement and energy of gas particles.
Additionally, the Ideal gas law is derived from the kinetic theory of gases, which assumes that gas molecules are in constant motion and that their average kinetic energy is directly proportional to the temperature in Kelvin. Therefore, it is crucial to use Kelvin in order to accurately apply the principles and equations of the Ideal gas law in calculations.