4. a. MTBE is a gasoline additive that has recently been implicated in groundwat

Question

4. a. MTBE is a gasoline additive that has recently been implicated in groundwater contamination and is also present in the urban atmosphere and rainwater. A rainwater sample had dissolved concentrations of MTBE of 9.6 x 10-10 M. If this sample were at equilibrium with atmospheric MTBE, what would be the atmospheric pressure of MTBE in Pa?

KH = 1.7 M/atm (Henry's constant)

b. A nearby stream has an MTBE concentration of 3.7 x 10-8 M. Is this MTBE attributable to the atmosphere or does it offer evidence of a local MTBE source?

Explanation / Answer

4)

a)

concentration = 9.6 x 10^-10 M

kH = 1.7 M / atm

pressure = C / kH

               = 9.6 x 10^-10 / 1.7

pressure = 5.65 x 10^-10 atm

             = 5.7 x 10^-5 Pa

atmospheric pressure = 5.7 x 10^-5 Pa

b)

here stream concentration = 3.7 x 10^-8 M

this is higher than the dissolved concentration = 9.6 x 10^-10 M.

this is offer evidence of local MTBE source

Related Questions

Navigate

• Browse (All)
• Browse 4
• Subjects

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