To determine the pressure in each part of the vessel after equilibrium has been established, we need to analyze the behavior of the gases involved and apply the principles of gas laws, particularly Dalton's Law of Partial Pressures and the Ideal Gas Law. Let's break this down step by step.
Understanding the Setup
We have a vessel divided into three equal parts, each with a volume of 10 liters (since the total volume is 30 liters). The gases present are:
- Left part: Hydrogen (H2) - 30 g
- Middle part: Oxygen (O2) - 160 g
- Right part: Nitrogen (N2) - 70 g
Calculating Moles of Each Gas
First, we need to convert the masses of the gases into moles using the molar masses:
- Molar mass of H2 = 2 g/mol
- Molar mass of O2 = 32 g/mol
- Molar mass of N2 = 28 g/mol
Now, we can calculate the number of moles:
- For H2:
nH2 = 30 g / 2 g/mol = 15 moles
- For O2:
nO2 = 160 g / 32 g/mol = 5 moles
- For N2:
nN2 = 70 g / 28 g/mol = 2.5 moles
Behavior of Gases and Equilibrium
In this setup, the left partition allows only hydrogen to pass through, while the right partition allows both hydrogen and nitrogen. At equilibrium, the gases will distribute themselves according to their partial pressures.
Applying Dalton's Law
Dalton's Law states that the total pressure exerted by a mixture of non-reacting gases is equal to the sum of the partial pressures of each gas. The partial pressure of a gas can be calculated using the Ideal Gas Law:
P = (nRT) / V
Where:
- P = pressure
- n = number of moles
- R = ideal gas constant (0.0821 L·atm/(K·mol))
- T = temperature in Kelvin (300 K)
- V = volume in liters
Calculating Pressures in Each Part
Now, let's calculate the pressures in each section:
Left Part (Hydrogen Only)
For the left part, we have:
PH2 = (nH2RT) / V = (15 moles * 0.0821 L·atm/(K·mol) * 300 K) / 10 L
Calculating this gives:
PH2 = (15 * 0.0821 * 300) / 10 = 36.945 atm
Middle Part (Oxygen Only)
For the middle part, we only have oxygen:
PO2 = (nO2RT) / V = (5 moles * 0.0821 * 300) / 10
Calculating this gives:
PO2 = (5 * 0.0821 * 300) / 10 = 12.315 atm
Right Part (Hydrogen and Nitrogen)
In the right part, both hydrogen and nitrogen are present. We need to calculate their partial pressures:
For hydrogen in the right part:
PH2 = (nH2RT) / V = (15 moles * 0.0821 * 300) / 10 = 36.945 atm
For nitrogen:
PN2 = (nN2RT) / V = (2.5 moles * 0.0821 * 300) / 10
Calculating this gives:
PN2 = (2.5 * 0.0821 * 300) / 10 = 6.1575 atm
Now, summing the partial pressures for the right part:
PTotal = PH2 + PN2 = 36.945 + 6.1575 = 43.1025 atm
Final Pressures in Each Part
After equilibrium is reached, the pressures in each part of the vessel will be:
- Left Part (Hydrogen): 36.945 atm
- Middle Part (Oxygen): 12.315 atm
- Right Part (Hydrogen and Nitrogen): 43.1025 atm
This analysis shows how the distribution of gases and their respective properties affect the final pressures in a closed system. Understanding these principles is crucial in fields such as chemistry and engineering, where gas behavior plays a significant role in various applications.