Final answer:
Medical gases are vital components in health care, utilized for anesthesia during surgeries and respiratory support, and are maintained in the operating inventory. The pressures of gas cylinders used in medical labs can be calculated using principles from the ideal gas law, and partial pressures can be derived from the percentage composition of the gas mixture. A hydraulic press would not function correctly with a gas due to the compressibility of gases compared to liquids.
Step-by-step explanation:
Medical gases are essential supplies in clinical settings, and they are indeed maintained in operating inventory within hospitals to ensure high-quality care. Specifically, these gases, like oxygen and nitrous oxide, are critical for various procedures. During surgery, anesthesia administered as a compressed gas ensures that patients remain unconscious and pain-free, while oxygen supports those with respiratory difficulties.
For instance, a 36.0-L cylinder containing a gas mixture used in blood gas analyzers would have a calculable pressure at a given temperature using the ideal gas law. In another case, a cylinder with a defined percentage composition of CO2, O2, and N2 at a total pressure of 146 atm would have each gas's partial pressure determined by its percentage contribution to the total pressure.
Compressed gases are critical beyond healthcare, finding use in activities like welding, with acetylene and oxygen mixtures, and powering barbeque grills with propane. These examples illustrate the importance of consistently maintaining stocks of different gases for a range of applications.
CHECK YOUR UNDERSTANDING 14.3
A hydraulic press operates on the principle of Pascal's law and generally uses a liquid because liquids are virtually incompressible, thus transmitting pressure efficiently. However, if a gas were used, which is compressible, the press would not operate properly, as gases do not transmit pressure in the same effective and immediate manner as liquids do.