Question

A sample of N2 gas is added to a mixture of other gases originally at 0.85 atm. When the nitrogen is added, the pressure of the gases increases to 988 mmHg. Explain why the pressure increased and give the partial pressure of nitrogen in atm.

Answer 1

Partial pressure of nitrogen gas,
`p^o_{N_2] =0.44 atm`

Step-by-step explanation:

Pressure of the mixture of gases before adding nitrogen gas = 0.85 atm

Pressure of the mixture of gases after adding nitrogen gas = 988 mmHg

1 mmHg = 0.001315 atm

988 mmHg=
`988 mmHg* 0.001315 atm = 1.29 atm`

Partial pressure of nitrogen gas,
`p^o_{N_2] = 1.29 atm - 0.85 atm = 0.44 atm`

According to Dalton's law of partial pressure , the total pressure of the mixture of gases is equal to sum of all the partial pressures of each gas present in the mixture.

`P_(total)=\sum p^o_(i)`

So, on addition of nitrogen gas to the mixture the pressure of the mixture increases.