Question

A scientist is examining a mixture of nitrogen, hydrogen, and ammonia. The individual pressures that are exerted by nitrogen and hydrogen are 0.26 atm and 0.28 atm, respectively. If the total pressure is 0.90 atm, what is the partial pressure of ammonia?

Answer 1

0.36 atm is the correct answer.

Answer 2

Using Daltons Law which states that the total pressure of a gas mixture is the sum of the gasses partial pressure.Thus,

Pt(total pressure)= P1+P2+P3
where
Pt= 0.90 atm
P1= 0.26 atm
P2 = 0.28 atm
P3 = ?
substitute the formula with known variables
P3= 0.90 atm-(0.26atm+0.28atm)
P3 = 0.36 atm

The partial pressure of ammonia is 0.36 atm