Question

Atmospheric pressure atop Mt. Everest is [Math Processing Error]. (a) What is the partial pressure of oxygen there if it is 20.9% of the air? (b) What percent oxygen should a mountain climber breathe so that its partial pressure is the same as at sea level, where atmospheric pressure is [Math Processing Error]?

a) 11.3%
b) 16.2%
c) 20.9%
d) 25.8%

Answer 1

To find the partial pressure of oxygen atop Mt. Everest, multiply the total atmospheric pressure by the percentage of oxygen. To have the same partial pressure of oxygen at sea level, the mountain climber should breathe 21% oxygen.

Step-by-step explanation:

(a) To find the partial pressure of oxygen atop Mt. Everest, we need to multiply the total atmospheric pressure by the percentage of oxygen in the air. The partial pressure of oxygen is given by:

PO2 = (Total Pressure) * (Percentage of Oxygen)

PO2 = (3.30x104 N/m²) * (0.209) = 6.897x103 N/m²

(b) To find the percent oxygen a mountain climber should breathe at sea level to have the same partial pressure of oxygen, we can use the formula:

Percentage of Oxygen = (Partial Pressure of Oxygen)/(Total Pressure)

Percentage of Oxygen = (160 mm Hg)/(760 mm Hg) = 21%