What does "P" stand for in the ideal gas law?

In the ideal gas law, represented by the equation PV = nRT, "P" stands for pressure. The ideal gas law describes the behavior of an ideal gas by illustrating the relationship among pressure (P), volume (V), number of moles of gas (n), the ideal gas constant (R), and temperature (T) measured in Kelvin.

Pressure is a critical component of this relationship, as it indicates the force exerted by gas particles colliding with the walls of their container per unit area. The ideal gas law assumes that these particle interactions and conditions are consistent, allowing the calculation of one variable if the other variables are known. Thus, recognizing that "P" stands for pressure is essential for understanding the state of a gas and how it behaves under varying conditions.