The air at the top of Mount Everest has pressures of 201.0 torr N2, 50.0 torr O2, 2.0 torr Ar, and 0.5 torr CO2. What is the total air pressure at the top of the highest peak in the world? Show all work to receive full credit.

The total air pressure at the top of the highest peak in the world is 253.5 torr

Explanation:

The partial pressures of the gases present at the top of Mount Everest are;

Nitrogen, N₂ = 201.0 torr

Oxygen, O₂ = 50.0 torr

Argon, Ar = 2.0 torr

Carbon dioxide, CO₂ = 0.5 torr

By Dalton's law of partial pressure, the total pressure that a mixture of gases exerts is equal to the sum of the partial pressures of the individual gases

Mathematically, the law can be expressed as follows;

Total pressure, P = ∑P = P₁ + P₂ + · · ·

From which we have;

The total air pressure at the top of the highest peak in the world, Mount Everest, = The sum of the partial pressures of N₂, O₂, Ar, and CO₂

= 201.0 torr + 50.0 torr + 2.0 torr + 0.5 torr = 253.5 torr

= 253.5 torr = 0.33355263 atmosphere

Therefore, the total air pressure at the top of the highest peak in the world,   = 253.5 torr