What is the combined gas law equation?

The combined gas law equation is represented by the formula P1V1/T1 = P2V2/T2. This law combines Boyle’s Law, Charles’s Law, and Gay-Lussac's Law into a single equation that describes the relationship between pressure, volume, and temperature of a gas.

In this equation, P stands for pressure, V represents volume, T signifies temperature, and the subscripts (1 and 2) indicate the initial and final states of the gas. The combined gas law shows that as one of these properties changes, the others will also change in a specific way, provided the amount of gas remains constant.

This equation is essential in respiratory care practice because it allows practitioners to understand how gases behave under different conditions, which is crucial when managing patients with respiratory issues. For instance, it can be applied to calculate the changes in lung volumes and pressures that occur with different forms of ventilation.

The other options presented do not encapsulate the relationships of all three variables (pressure, volume, and temperature) together in the same manner as the combined gas law does. Thus, they do not serve as a comprehensive representation of gas behavior under varying conditions.