In a container filled with one mole of helium and one mole of nitrogen, the pressure in the container is primarily ___________________________.

a
the pressure exerted by nitrogen
b
the sum of the pressures exerted by nitrogen and helium
c
the pressure exerted by helium
d
zero

1 answer

The correct answer is:

b the sum of the pressures exerted by nitrogen and helium

This is because the total pressure in a container with a mixture of gases is the sum of the partial pressures exerted by each individual gas, according to Dalton's Law of Partial Pressures. Each gas contributes to the total pressure based on its mole fraction and temperature.