Question

1 gallon of benzene having a density of 0.88 g/mL is spilled in 200 feet by 150 foot lake having an average depth of 6 feet. What is the concentration of benzene in this contaminated lake?

Answer 1

The concentration of benzene in this contaminated lake would be 653549ng/L.

Step-by-step explanation:

The concentration C of a contaminant over a body of water of volume V can be obtained as:

C=Mass contaminant / V

In this case, the volume of the body of water:

`V=200ft\cdot150ft\cdot6ft=5097.033m^3`

The mass of the contaminant (Benzene):

`m=\delta V_(ben)=0.88(g)/(ml) 1gal(us)=3.3311kg`

Therefore:

`C=(m_(ben))/(V_(lake))=6.53549\cdot10^(-4)kg/m^3=653549ng/l`