A stockroom supervisor measured the contents of a partially filled 25.0-gallon a

Question

A stockroom supervisor measured the contents of a partially filled 25.0-gallon acetone drum on a day when the temperature was 18.0 degrees Celsius and the atmospheric pressure was 749 mmHg, and found that 15.4 gallons of the solvent remained. After tightly sealing the drum, an assistant dropped the drum while carrying it upstairs to the organic laboratory. The drum was dented and its internal volume was decreased to 20.4 gallons. What is the partial pressure of air inside the drum after the accident? The initial partial pressure of air was 349 mmHg

Explanation / Answer

I think the Science Guy was on the right track, but I don't think it was correct. If no acetone were present in the vapor, then the pressure-volume correlation would be correct. However, of the space in the barrel, some of it is acetone vapor, 400 mm of the 756 mm. The difference is made up of air, 356 mm. After denting, the volume of the air will be reduced and the its pressure will increase. I think the partial pressure of the acetone should remain the same as the temperature of the barrel should remain constant. I think you need to calculate a new pressure of the air to accommodate the new volume. Then add the partial pressure of the acetone, 400 mm to get the new pressure. If the barrel contained only acetone and no air, then the pressure of the acetone would be 400 mm Hg. If you opened the barrel, air would be sucked in because the inner pressure would be 400 mm and the atomosphere would be 756 mm.

Related Questions

Navigate

• Browse (All)
• Browse A
• Subjects

---

---

Integrity-first tutoring: explanations and feedback only — we do not complete graded work. Learn more.