Question

Three flasks are connected to each other, separated only by a three-way stopcock.

• Flask 1 has a volume of 3.000 liters and holds helium gas at a pressure of 3.500 atmospheres
• Flask 2 has a volume of 2.000 liters and holds nitrogen gas at a pressure of 2.000 atmospheres
• Flask 3 has a volume of 1.800 liters and holds oxygen gas at a pressure of 4.000 atmospheres
If the stopcock separating the flasks were to be opened, what would the partial pressure of each gas in the apparatus be?

Answer 1

The partial pressures of each gas in the apparatus can be calculated using Dalton's law of partial pressure.

Step-by-step explanation:

The partial pressures of each gas in the apparatus can be calculated using Dalton's law of partial pressure. According to Dalton's law, the total pressure in the apparatus is equal to the sum of the partial pressures of each gas. Since the flasks are connected, the total volume of the apparatus is the sum of the volumes of all three flasks, which is 3.000 liters + 2.000 liters + 1.800 liters = 6.800 liters.

To calculate the partial pressure of each gas, we can use the formula:

Partial Pressure = (Moles of Gas / Total Moles of Gas) * Total Pressure of Apparatus

For helium gas:

Partial Pressure of Helium = (3.000 liters / 6.800 liters) * 3.500 atmospheres = 1.535 atmospheres

For nitrogen gas:

Partial Pressure of Nitrogen = (2.000 liters / 6.800 liters) * 2.000 atmospheres = 0.588 atmospheres

For oxygen gas:

Partial Pressure of Oxygen = (1.800 liters / 6.800 liters) * 4.000 atmospheres = 1.058 atmospheres