A gas mixture in a closed vessel contains 2.5 moles of sulfur dioxide ( ), 4.5 moles of oxygen ( ), and 3.0 moles of sulfur trioxide ( ). Assume the gases behave ideally and do not react with each other. The total pressure of the system is 360 kPa. What is the partial pressure of in the mixture?
Options
A
120 kPa
B
135 kPa
C
162 kPa
D
180 kPa
Answer & Analysis
Answer
C
Analysis
Question Analysis
This question involves the mole fraction application of Dalton’s Law of Partial Pressures. The main focus is on calculating the partial pressure of a specified gas in a three-component mixture using its mole fraction and the provided total pressure.
Key Concept Explanation
Dalton’s Law of Partial Pressures can be linked to mole fraction ( )—the proportion of a gas’s moles relative to the total moles of the mixture. The core formulas are:
where = moles of the target gas, = total moles of all gases in the mixture, = partial pressure of the target gas, and = total pressure of the mixture. This applies only to non-reacting ideal gases.
Step-by-Step Solution
1. Calculate the total moles of the gas mixture:
2. Calculate the mole fraction of :
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