Final answer:
The total pressure of the gas mixture in the cylinder is the sum of the partial pressures, which is 11.7 atm, corresponding to answer choice A.
Step-by-step explanation:
The total pressure of a gas mixture in a container is calculated by using Dalton's Law of Partial Pressures which states that the total pressure exerted by a mixture of non-reacting gases is equal to the sum of the partial pressures of individual gases. In your question, where there are three non-reacting gases in a cylinder: helium, argon, and krypton, with partial pressures of 5.7 atm, 3.2 atm, and 2.8 atm respectively, you simply add these pressures together to find the total pressure.
The calculation is as follows: 5.7 atm (Helium) + 3.2 atm (Argon) + 2.8 atm (Krypton) = 11.7 atm (Total Pressure).
Therefore, the correct answer to your question is A) 11.7 atm.