mixing gases

[clapps611]

A statement that air is made up of different quantities of gas all at the same temperature and volume, makes me ask this question

if a rubber balloon full of nitrogen is connected directly to a balloon full of hydrogen
(both balloons at the same volume, pressure and temperature)
will the balloons volumes reduce as the gases mix?

[rmarz]

clapps611 - Very interesting question that I wasn't sure I knew the perfect answer to, but did a little research. Simple answer, the total volume of gas in the two balloons is the sum of the two gasses. This would be different if the gasses reacted and became a chemical compound. I felt that if the gasses in the mixture did not chemically react with each other, the basic Boyle's law phenomena would be in effect, in essence the pressure, volume and temperature characteristics would all be identical whether it was a single gas or a mixture. The research on Boyle's Law, the Ideal Gas Law and Dalton's law support this. One caveat is if the gas/gasses are at extreme temperature or pressures the results may not be perfectly linear. Here is one of many explanations that support the subject.

https://www.boundless.com/chemistry/gas ... -pressure/

Rick Marz