The volume of blood in the body of a diver is about 6 L

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The discussion centers on calculating the maximum volume of nitrogen that can dissolve in a diver's blood plasma at a pressure of 10.0 atm, using Henry's Law. The diver's blood volume is approximately 6 liters, with blood cells constituting 55% and plasma 45% of that volume. The relevant equation for solubility is s = k * p, where k is Henry's constant for nitrogen at 37°C, valued at 5.8E-7 mol/L-atm. The partial pressure of nitrogen is suggested to be 10 atm for the calculations. Participants emphasize the need to apply these values to determine the solubility and ultimately the volume of nitrogen in the blood plasma.
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the volume of blood in the bodyof a diver is about 6 L. Blood cells make up about 55% of the blood volume, and the remaining 45% is the aqueous solution called plasma. What is the maximum volume of nitrogen measured at 1.00 atm and 37C that could dissolve in the diver's blood plasma when the pressure is 10.0 atm. assume that henry's constant for nitrogen at 37C is 5.8E-7 mol*L^-1*atm^-1.

OK. I know I need to use henry's law, s=k*p, but I need some help calculating p, the partial pressure of nitrogen. Then I can use PV=nRT to solve for the volume, right?

TIA.
 
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anyone? :-/
 
As far as I know the equation for solubility is written :

p = K_c \cdot s~,~

but, from the dimensions you quote for your value of k, your expression (s=k*p) is correct. So, my Kc is 1/k, but that's irrelevant now. Use your expression :

s = k*p

where :
k = 5.8E-7 mol/L-atm
p = partial pressure of nitrogen = 10 atm (I recommend this number, only because of lack of additional information...it may be that you must use 7.8 atm, but I'm not certain)


Plugging these in will give you s. But you know the volume of blood, so . . . . . .
 
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