What gas law relates the volume and pressure of a gas?

• A. Charles' Law
• B. Gay-Lussac's Law
• C. Avogadro's Law
• D. Boyle's Law

Answer: (D)

Boyle's Law directly relates the volume and pressure of a gas, stating that at a constant temperature, the pressure and volume of a gas are inversely proportional to each other. This means that when the volume of a gas increases, the pressure decreases, and vice versa, assuming no change in temperature or the amount of gas present. The mathematical formulation of Boyle's Law is expressed as ( P_1V_1 = P_2V_2 ), where ( P ) represents pressure and ( V ) represents volume at two different conditions.

This fundamental principle of gas behavior plays a crucial role in various applications in both clinical and environmental settings, illustrating how gases respond to changes in their environment. Understanding this relationship is essential for fields like respiratory physiology, where lung volumes and pressures are key to understanding breathing mechanics.

In contrast, other gas laws such as Charles' Law deal with the relationship between volume and temperature, Gay-Lussac's Law focuses on pressure and temperature, and Avogadro's Law concerns the volume of gas with the amount of substance, not pressure. Thus, Boyle's Law specifically addresses the direct interaction between volume and pressure under the right conditions, making it the correct answer to this question.