In: Physics
A. A person’s lungs can hold 6.0 L (1 L = 10-3 m3) of air at body temperature (310 K) and atmospheric pressure (101 kPa). Given that air is 21% oxygen, find the number of oxygen molecules in the lungs. [Ans: 3.0 x 10^22]
B. (Continued from the previous question) If the person now climbs to the top of a mountain, where the air pressure is half that at the base, does the number of molecules in the lungs change? If so, what is the number of oxygen molecules in the lungs? [Ans: 3.1 x 10^21]
We have the ideal gas equation,
Where P is pressure, V is volume, T is temperature, n is no of moles of gas present in the system, and R = 8.31 J/mol.K is universal gas constant.
Therefore total number of moles of gas that a person's lungs can hold is
We know that,
One mole of any substance = 6.022 X 1023 particles
Therefore, total number of gas particles in a person's lungs are
Given that the gas contains 21 % Oxygen. So, the number of Oxygen particles in a person's lungs are
(B)
If the pressure become half of the original pressure then from the equation
the total number of particles will also get half of the original.
So, the number of oxygen molecules in the lungs at this height is
NOTE: The answer printed in your text is mistaken. However there are so many facts that can change the number of particles, like, if u climb a mountain the temperature will also change and this will effect the number of particles of Oxygen present in the lungs.