Practice question
Question
A gas mixture has 2 g of helium and 16 g of oxygen. What is the ratio of their partial pressures?
Explanation
**Dalton's law of partial pressures** total pressure P_total = Σ P_i, P_i = X_i P_total, X_i mole tion, each gas exerts pressure as if alone, ideal gas mixture P_i V = n_i R T, partial pressure proportional to mole tion, e.g., air 79% N₂ 21% O₂ P_N₂=0.79 atm P_O₂=0.21 atm at 1 atm total. P = (μ RT)/(V), P_HeP_O₂ = μ_Heμ_O₂.μ_He = (2)/(4) = 0.5 mol, μ_O₂ = (16)/(32) = 0.5 mol.Ratio = (0.5)/(0.5) = 1:1. Substituting values gives 1:1, which matches expected kinetic theory result, confirming mean free path λ = 1/(√2 n π d²), ideal gas law P V = n R T
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