Question

When concentrations of formaldehyde in the air exceed 33 µg/ft³ (1 µg = 10⁻⁶ gram), a strong odor and irritation to the eyes often occurs. One square foot of hardwood plywood paneling can emit 3365 µg of formaldehyde per day. If a 5 ft by 6 ft sheet of paneling is attached to a wall in a room with floor dimensions of 10 ft by 10 ft and a height of 6 ft, what is the concentration of formaldehyde in the room in µg/ft³?

Answer 1

To determine the formaldehyde concentration, calculate the room volume (600 ft³) and total emission from the plywood (101,950 µg/day), then divide total emission by room volume, resulting in a concentration of 169.92 µg/ft³ per day.

Step-by-step explanation:

First, we need to calculate the volume of the room to determine the concentration of formaldehyde. The room's dimensions are 10 ft by 10 ft with a height of 6 ft:

• Room Volume = length × width × height
• Room Volume = 10 ft × 10 ft × 6 ft
• Room Volume = 600 ft³

Next, we will calculate the amount of formaldehyde emitted by the plywood paneling. One square foot of paneling emits 3365 µg of formaldehyde per day:

• Paneling Area = 5 ft × 6 ft
• Paneling Area = 30 ft²
• Total Emission = Paneling Area × Emission per ft²
• Total Emission = 30 ft² × 3365 µg/ft²
• Total Emission = 101,950 µg/day

To find the concentration of formaldehyde in the room, we divide the total emission by the room volume:

• Concentration = Total Emission / Room Volume
• Concentration = 101,950 µg/day / 600 ft³
• Concentration = 169.92 µg/ft³ per day

The concentration of formaldehyde in the room is 169.92 µg/ft³ per day.