Question

A tank contains helium gas at 585 mmHg, nitrogen gas at 0.76 atm, and neon at 940 torr. What is the total pressure

Answer 1

2.77 atm

Step-by-step explanation:

The total pressure of a mixture of gases is calculated as the addition of the partial pressures of the gases. In this case, the total pressure (Pt) is calculated from the partial pressures of helium (PHe), nitrogen (PN₂) and neon (PNe):

Pt = PHe + PN₂ + PNe

First, we have to convert the partial pressures to the same unit (atm). For this, we have to know that 1 atm=760 mmHg=760 Torr

PHe = 585 mmHg x 1 atm/760 mmHg = 0.77 atm

PN₂= 0.76 atm

PNe= 940 Torr x 1 atm/760 Torr = 1.24 atm

Finally, we calculate the total pressure in atm:

Pt = 0.77 atm + 0.76 atm + 1.24 atm= 2.77 atm