In: Chemistry
Dinitrogen tetroxide was used as part of the fuel for the lunar lander in the Apollo missions. It establishes the equilibrium below.
N2O4 (g) <--> 2 NO2 (g) Kp = 0.133
If an unknown pressure of N2O4 is added to a reaction flask, and 90.0% of the N2O4 still remains once equilibrium has been established, what was the initial pressure that was added to the reaction flask?
N2O4 (g) <--------------> 2 NO2 (g)
Kp = 0.133
N2O4 (g) <--------------> 2 NO2 (g)
P x
P - x x
P - x = 0.9 P
x = 0.1 P
Kp = P^2NO / PN2O4
0.133 = (0.1P)^2 / 0.9 P
0.133 = 0.01 P^2 / 0.9 P
P = 11.97
initial pressure that was added to the reaction flask = 11.97 atm