Question

Occupational Safety and Health Administration has set the limit on the maximum percentage of carbon dioxide (CO2) in air a worker can breathe at 0.500% by mole. If dry ice (solid CO2) is sublimating (becoming a gas) in a room at a rate of 0.880 mol/min, what is the minimum rate that fresh air has to be supplied to the room so that the concentration of CO2 in the room doesn't exceed 0.500% by mole? Assume the room is well mixed, and the volume of the solid dry ice does not change

Answer 1

The minimum rate of fresh air in the room is 176 moles/min

Step-by-step explanation:

High exposure of CO₂ has health effects as headaches, increased heart rate, elevated blood pressure, coma, asphyxia, convulsions, etc.

0,500 mole% of CO₂ in air means 0,500 moles of CO₂ per 100 moles of air

As the rate of sublimation of CO₂ is 0,880, the minimum rate of fresh air in the room must be:

`(0,500 moles CO_(2))/(100 moles Air) = (0,880 moles CO_(2)/min)/(X)`

X = 176 moles of Air/min

I hope it helps!