Q. 8.55 - An Introduction to General, Organic, and Biological Chemistry

Question

In a gas mixture, the partial pressures are nitrogen $425 Torr$, oxygen $115 Torr$, and helium $225 Torr$. What is the total pressure, in Torr, exerted by the gas mixture?

Step-by-Step Solution

Answer

The total pressure is $765 Torr$.

Step 1: Given Information

We need to find the total pressure.

Step 2: Simplify

In a gas, mixture, each gas exerts its partial pressure, which is the pressure it would exert if it were the gas in the container. Dalton's law that the total pressure of a gas mixture is the sum of the partial pressures of the gases in the mixture. 

Total pressure is:

Nitrogen is $P_{nit}=425 Torr$ 

Oxygen is$P_{oxy}=115 Torr$

 Helium is $P_{helium}=225 Torr$

$$\begin{gathered} P_{total }=p_{nit}+P_{oxy}+P_{helium} \\ =425+115+225 \\ =765 Torr \end{gathered}$$