A mixture of oxygen, helium, and nitrogen gases exerts a total pressure of 287 kPa. If the partial pressures of the oxygen and the helium are 112 kPa and 11 kPa respectively, what would be the partial pressure exerted by the nitrogen?

276 kPa

101 kPa

175 kPa

164 kPa

1 answer

To find the partial pressure of nitrogen, you can use Dalton's law of partial pressures, which states that the total pressure exerted by a mixture of gases is equal to the sum of the partial pressures of each individual gas.

The formula can be expressed as:

\[ P_{\text{total}} = P_{\text{O}2} + P{\text{He}} + P_{\text{N}_2} \]

Given:

  • \( P_{\text{total}} = 287 , \text{kPa} \)
  • \( P_{\text{O}_2} = 112 , \text{kPa} \)
  • \( P_{\text{He}} = 11 , \text{kPa} \)

We need to find \( P_{\text{N}_2} \):

\[ P_{\text{N}2} = P{\text{total}} - P_{\text{O}2} - P{\text{He}} \]

Substituting in the given values:

\[ P_{\text{N}_2} = 287 , \text{kPa} - 112 , \text{kPa} - 11 , \text{kPa} \]

Calculating the right-hand side:

\[ P_{\text{N}_2} = 287 , \text{kPa} - 123 , \text{kPa} = 164 , \text{kPa} \]

Therefore, the partial pressure exerted by the nitrogen is \( \boxed{164 , \text{kPa}} \).