A mixture of Nitrogen, Oxygen, and Helium gas is collected in a container at 1 atmosphere, if the partial pressure of oxygen is 320 mm and helium's pressure is 112, what is the partial pressure of the nitrogen?

2 Answers
May 10, 2018

#"The sum of the partial pressures is equal to the total pressure...."#

Explanation:

And so #P_"Total"=SigmaP_"n"#

And we know #1*atm-=760*mm*Hg#....here a unit of length is used as a unit of pressure.

#1*atm={((320+112+P_(N_2))*mm*Hg)/(760*mm*Hg*atm^-1)}#

#P_(N_2)=(760-320-112)*mm*Hg=328*mm*Hg#

#P_(N_2)=(328*mm*Hg)/(760*mm*Hg)~=1/2*atm#

May 10, 2018

328 mmHg

Explanation:

Assumptions made: Partial pressures given for oxygen and helium are in mmHg and required answer is in mm Hg.

First, convert the total pressure of system 1 atm to mm Hg:

#P_"total" = 1 atm * (760 mm Hg)/(1 atm)=760 mm Hg#

According to Dalton's Law of partial pressure:

#P_"total"=P_"oxygen"+P_"helium"+P_"nitrogen"#

#760 = 320 + 112 + P_"nitrogen"#

#P_"nitrogen" = 760 - 320 - 112 = 328 mm Hg#

If you need the value in atmosphere:
#P_"nitrogen"=328 mm Hg*(1 atm)/(760 mm Hg) = 0.432 atm#