38. Nitrogen gas is much more soluble at higher pressures than at lower pressure

Question

38. Nitrogen gas is much more soluble at higher pressures than at lower pressures. This is of great concern to SCUBA divers because of the danger of contractipg the bends. What is the concentration of nitrogen gas in blood at 3.0 atmospheres of total pressure, a depth of approximately 67 feet, if the solubility of nitrogen in blood is 0.0197 g L at 1 atmosphere of nitrogert pressure (KH 0.0197 gL atm)? Assume air is 79 % (v/v) nitrogen. Hint. Remember partial pressures?= XM,Popo, and Prota,-P' + Pb

Explanation / Answer

Henrys constant, KH = 0.0197 g/L-atm

Total pressure, Ptotal = 3 atm

Mole fraction of N2, XN2 = 0.79

Partial pressure of Nitrogen, PN2 = Ptotal * XN2

= 3 atm * 0.79 = 2.37 atm

According to henry’s law,

Solubility of nitrogen in blood, C = KH * PN2

= 0.0197 g/L-atm * 2.37 atm

= 0.0467 g/L

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