Question

A diver planning to dive to a depth of 100 ft can choose to breathe air that is a mixture of oxygen, nitrogen, and helium. If the total pressure of the air in the tank is 3040 mm Hg , and the partial pressures of O2 and He are 304 mm Hg and 1520 mm Hg , respectively, what is the partial pressure of N2

Answer 1

Answer:

1216 mmHg = Partial pressure N₂

Explanation:

In a mixture of n gases, the partial pressure of each compound follows the equation:

Total pressure = Partial pressure n₁ + Partial pressure n₂ + Partial pressure n₃ + Partial pressure n₄ + Partial pressure n₅ + ... + Partial pressure nₙ

In a mixture of O₂, He and N₂, the total pressure = 3040mmHg is defined as:

3040 mmHg = Partial pressure O₂ + Partial pressure He + Partial pressure N₂

Replacing:

3040 mmHg = 304 mmHg + 1520 mmHg + Partial pressure N₂

3040 mmHg = 1824 mmHg + Partial pressure N₂

1216 mmHg = Partial pressure N₂