What effect does decreasing the volume of a gas container have on pressure?

Study for the Chemistry Gas Laws Test with flashcards and multiple-choice questions. Each question comes with hints and explanations. Get ready for your exam!

When the volume of a gas container is decreased, the molecules of the gas are compressed into a smaller space. According to Boyle’s Law, which states that pressure and volume are inversely related at constant temperature, a decrease in volume leads to an increase in pressure. This occurs because the same number of gas molecules now occupies a smaller volume, which means they collide with the walls of the container more frequently and with greater force. Hence, the overall pressure exerted by the gas increases as the container's volume decreases. This fundamental relationship is pivotal in understanding how gases behave under different conditions, particularly in thermodynamics and various real-world applications involving gas behavior.

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