In: Chemistry
A clumsy ENVSE professor accidentally spills a bottle containing 125 mL of m-xylene (CAS 108-383) in a laboratory measuring 12 ft x 15 ft x 8 ft. Assuming that the contents completely evaporate and fill the space, what is the resulting concentration of m-xylene in units of mg/m3 and ppmv assuming NTP? Show your work and explain your reasoning in answering the following:
a. Estimated Concentration, mg/m3 =
_______________________________________
b. Estimated Concentration, ppmv =
_______________________________________
c. Is this environment hazardous from a safety (fire and explosion)
perspective?
d. Is this environment hazardous from a health perspective?
125 mL of m-xylene; density = 0.86 g/mL
Therefore mass of m-xylene = 125 mL x 0.86 g/mL
= 107.5 g
Now, we have to find volume of the lab in m3 ;
Given dimensions of the lab are: 12 ft x 15 ft x 8 ft
volume of lab = 1440 ft3
= 40.78 m3 (1
cubic ft = 0.028317 cubic m)
Now, we have volume of the lab and mass of the m-xylene,
Therefore,
concentration = mass/volume in m3
=
107.5 g/40.78 m3
=
2.636 g/m3
=
2636 mg/m3
Therfore, a. Estimated Concentration, mg/m3
= 2636 mg/m3
b. Estimated Concentration, ppmv = mg/m3
(RT/M)
= 2636 mg/m3 (0.08205 atm.m3/kmol.K x 293.15
K)/106.168 g/mol)
= 597 ppmv
therefore, the answer is : 597 ppmv
c. Is this environment hazardous from a safety (fire and explosion)
perspective?
air density (NTP) = 1.2041 kg/m3
That means the mass of air in 1 m3 = 1.2041 Kg = 1204.1 g
we have mass of m-xylene in 1 m3 = 2.636 g
Therefore, the percent of m-xylene present in air =(mass of
xylene/mass of air)x 100
= (2.636 g/1204.1 g)100
= 0.22 %
The explosive limits of m-xylene is = 1.1% - 7.0%
Therefore, in our case the m-xylene is under the lowest limits of
explosion..therefore, there is no possibility of
explosion with this concentration of m-xylene.
d. Is this environment hazardous from a health perspective?
According to the US, health exposure limits the permissible
limit is = 435 mg/m3
Our concentration is 2636 mg/m3 which way too high, hence, there is
the serious environmental and health issues are there.