Question

What is the partial pressure of radon if the total pressure is 780 torr and the

water vapor partial pressure is 1.0 atm?

Answer 1

0.03atm

Step-by-step explanation:

Given parameters:

Total pressure = 780torr

Partial pressure of water vapor = 1.0atm

Unknown:

Partial pressure of radon = ?

Solution:

A sound knowledge of Dalton's law of partial pressure will help solve this problem.

The law states that "the total pressure of a mixture of gases is equal to the sum of the partial pressures of the constituent gases".

Mathematically;

P
`_(t)` = P
`_(1)` + P
`_(2)` + P
`_(n)`

Since the total pressure is 780torr, convert this to atm;

760torr = 1 atm

780torr =
`(780)/(760)` atm = 1.03atm

For this problem;

Total pressure = Partial pressure of radon + Partial pressure of water vapor

1.03 = Partial pressure of radon + 1.0

Partial pressure of radon = 1.03 - 1.00 = 0.03atm