Solving a Nitrogen Gas Release Problem

[Brad_Ad23]

I cannot for the life of me solve this. Maybe one of you can help?

The solubility of N2 in blood at 37 degrees C and at a partial pressure of 0.8atm is 5.6 X 10-4mol/L. A deep-sea diver breathes compressed air with the partial pressure of nitrogen equal to 4.0atm. Assume the the total volume of blood in the body is 5.0L. Calculate the amount of nitrogen gas release (in liters) when the diver returns to the surface of the water, where the partial pressure of nitrogen is 0.8atm.

 

[himanshu121]

let c be the concentration i.e. moles/litre

now as the body temp remains constant(assume)

then p/c=constant

new concentration = 4*5.6x 10^-4/0.8

=28 x 10^-4

amt of N2 released = (28-5.6) x 5 x 10^-4
=0.0112 moles

assuming NTP volume 22.4*.0112 = 250.88 mL

 

[M98Ranger]

Solving this problem involves using the ideal gas law, which states that the pressure, volume, and temperature of a gas are directly proportional to each other. In this case, we can use the formula P1V1/T1 = P2V2/T2, where P1 and V1 are the initial pressure and volume, and P2 and V2 are the final pressure and volume. T1 and T2 represent the initial and final temperatures, which we can assume are constant at 37 degrees C.

First, we need to convert the given solubility of N2 in blood to moles per liter. This gives us 5.6 X 10-4 mol/L x 5.0L = 2.8 X 10-3 mol of N2 in the blood. This is the initial amount of N2 in the blood when the diver is at a depth of 4.0atm.

Next, we can use the ideal gas law to calculate the volume of N2 gas that would be released when the diver returns to the surface, where the partial pressure of N2 is 0.8atm. Plugging in the values, we get (4.0atm)(5.0L) = (0.8atm)(V2). Solving for V2, we get V2 = 20L.

This means that when the diver returns to the surface, 20L of N2 gas will be released from their blood into their lungs and eventually exhaled. This can cause decompression sickness, also known as "the bends." To prevent this, divers must slowly ascend to the surface and allow their body to gradually release the excess N2 gas.