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Ch.13 - Properties of Solutions
Chapter 13, Problem 107b

At ordinary body temperature (37 °C), the solubility of N2 in water at ordinary atmospheric pressure (1.0 atm) is 0.015 g/L. Air is approximately 78 mol % N2. (b) At a depth of 100 ft in water, the external pressure is 4.0 atm. What is the solubility of N2 from air in blood at this pressure?

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1
Identify that the problem involves Henry's Law, which relates the solubility of a gas in a liquid to the partial pressure of the gas above the liquid.
Recall Henry's Law formula: \( S = k_H \cdot P \), where \( S \) is the solubility, \( k_H \) is Henry's Law constant, and \( P \) is the partial pressure of the gas.
Determine the partial pressure of \( N_2 \) at 4.0 atm. Since air is 78% \( N_2 \), calculate \( P_{N_2} = 0.78 \times 4.0 \text{ atm} \).
Use the given solubility of \( N_2 \) at 1.0 atm (0.015 g/L) to find \( k_H \) by rearranging Henry's Law: \( k_H = \frac{S}{P} \).
Calculate the new solubility \( S' \) at 4.0 atm using the previously determined \( k_H \) and the new partial pressure: \( S' = k_H \cdot P_{N_2} \).

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Key Concepts

Here are the essential concepts you must grasp in order to answer the question correctly.

Henry's Law

Henry's Law states that the amount of gas that dissolves in a liquid at a given temperature is directly proportional to the partial pressure of that gas above the liquid. This principle is crucial for understanding how gases like N<sub>2</sub> dissolve in blood under varying pressures, as it allows us to predict solubility changes with pressure.
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Partial Pressure

Partial pressure refers to the pressure exerted by a single component of a gas mixture. In the context of the question, the partial pressure of N<sub>2</sub> in air can be calculated from its molar percentage and the total pressure. This value is essential for applying Henry's Law to determine the solubility of N<sub>2</sub> in blood at increased depths.
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Gas Solubility in Liquids

The solubility of gases in liquids is influenced by temperature, pressure, and the nature of the gas and solvent. In this scenario, understanding how N<sub>2</sub> behaves in blood under different pressures helps in calculating its solubility at a depth of 100 ft, where the pressure is significantly higher than at the surface.
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Related Practice
Open Question
A lithium salt used in lubricating grease has the formula LiC nH2n + 1O2. The salt is soluble in water to the extent of 0.036 g per 100 g of water at 25 °C. The osmotic pressure of this solution is found to be 57.1 torr. Assuming that molality and molarity in such a dilute solution are the same and that the lithium salt is completely dissociated in the solution, determine an appropriate value of n in the formula for the salt.
Textbook Question

Fluorocarbons (compounds that contain both carbon and fluorine) were, until recently, used as refrigerants. The compounds listed in the following table are all gases at 25 °C, and their solubilities in water at 25 °C and 1 atm fluorocarbon pressure are given as mass percentages. (a) For each fluorocarbon, calculate the molality of a saturated solution.

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Textbook Question

Fluorocarbons (compounds that contain both carbon and fluorine) were, until recently, used as refrigerants. The compounds listed in the following table are all gases at 25 °C, and their solubilities in water at 25 °C and 1 atm fluorocarbon pressure are given as mass percentages. (c) Infants born with severe respiratory problems are sometimes given liquid ventilation: They breathe a liquid that can dissolve more oxygen than air can hold. One of these liquids is a fluorinated compound, CF3(CF2)7Br. The solubility of oxygen in this liquid is 66 mL O2 per 100 mL liquid. In contrast, air is 21% oxygen by volume. Calculate the moles of O2 present in an infant’s lungs (volume: 15 mL) if the infant takes a full breath of air compared to taking a full “breath” of a saturated solution of O2 in the fluorinated liquid. Assume a pressure of 1 atm in the lungs.

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Textbook Question
A series of anions is shown below:

The anion on the far right is called 'BARF' by chemists, as its common abbreviation sounds similar to this word. (d) Tetrabutylammonium, (CH3CH2CH2CH2)4N + is a bulky cation. Which anion, when paired with the tetrabutylammonium cation, would lead to a salt that will be most soluble in nonpolar solvents?
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Textbook Question

A series of anions is shown below:

The anion on the far right is called 'BARF' by chemists, as its common abbreviation sounds similar to this word. (a) What is the central atom and the number of electronpair domains around the central atom in each of these anions?

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Textbook Question

A series of anions is shown below:

The anion on the far right is called 'BARF' by chemists, as its common abbreviation sounds similar to this word. (b) What is the electron-domain geometry around the central B in BARF?

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