What unit of temperature should be used when applying the ideal gas law?

What unit of temperature should be used when applying the ideal gas law?

  1. Celsius (°C)
  2. Kelvin (K) ✓
  3. Fahrenheit (°F)
  4. Rankine (°R)

Explanation

The ideal gas law requires Kelvin temperature. Kelvin starts at absolute zero, never goes negative. This prevents math errors in gas calculations.

Celsius and Fahrenheit can be negative. Negative temperatures break the gas law formula. Rankine is rarely used in chemistry.

Remember: Convert Celsius to Kelvin by adding 273. Gas laws need absolute temperature.