Question

A sample of air was collected on a day when the total atmosphere

pressure was 592 mmHg. The sample contained only oxygen and
nitrogen gas. If the oxygen in the sample had a pressure of 261
mmHg, how much pressure did the nitrogen have?
A. 853 mm Hg
B. 0.206 mm Hg
C. 4.76 mm Hg
D. 331 mm Hg
E. Other________
(Please show me how you did it)

Answer 1

D. 331 mm Hg

Step-by-step explanation:

We can solve this problem by keeping in mind the law of partial pressures, which states that the total pressure of a mixture of gases is equal to the sum of the partial pressures of its components.

In other words:

• P oxygen + P nitrogen = Total P

We input the given data:

• 261 mmHg + P nitrogen = 592 mmHg

And calculate the pressure of the nitrogen:

• P nitrogen = 331 mmHg