Application of Dalton’s Law of Partial Pressure in the Determination of the Partial Pressure of

Oxygen, Carbon Dioxide, and Nitrogen in the Atmosphere

Experiment 8A
Alexandra Estelle Pineda, Ramil Joseph P. Pizarro,
Jhon Justin Rotulo, Dana Isabelle A. Segui, Julian P. Soriano
Group #7
2B-BC

Abstract
Air is a mixture of different kinds of gases, with large percentage of Oxygen and
Nitrogen. Dalton’s Law of Partial Pressure dictates that such gases all exert varying, individual
pressures that must be equal to the total pressure observed. Under an atmospheric pressure of
747.8mmHg, the partial pressures and proportion of the aforementioned elements and Carbon
dioxide were determined experimentally. 22.92% of Oxygen was found to be present in air with
pressure of 171.5mmHg. Water displacement was used to determine the amount of Carbon
dioxide in air, and the results yielded in a percentage of 0.0400% and 0.2985mmHg as its partial
pressure. Nitrogen had a percentage of 77.05% and a partial pressure of 576.0mmHg, making it
the most abundant gas in air. The totality of the obtained partial pressures was determined to be
equal to the total pressure, confirming Dalton’s Law.

Introduction
In a mixture of gases, each
constituent gas contains a partial pressure
which is known as the notional pressure, if
that particular gas alone occupied the entire
volume of the original mixture at the same
temperature. The principle of Partial
Pressure was based from Dalton’s Law of
Partial Pressure formulated by John Dalton
through his numerous experiments with
gases in 1801. (Dalton’s Law: Law of
Partial Pressures, 2019)
For the calculation of each individual
partial pressure, it can be mathematically
expressed as:
𝑃1 = 𝑋1 𝑃𝑇
where,
X – mole fraction of the gas
𝑃𝑇 – total pressure of the gas mixture
Incidentally, the mole fraction of the
gas, which is required to obtain the partial
pressure of each gas can be acquired
mathematically through the formula:
𝑛1
𝑋=
𝑛 expand to fill the container it is in without
where,
X – mole fraction of the gas
𝑛1 – number of moles in the gas
n – total number of moles in the gas mixture.
The law states that the total pressure
exerted by a mixture of gases is the sum of
the partial pressures of the gases within the
mixture. Mathematically, it can be expressed
as:
𝑃𝑇 = 𝑃1 + 𝑃2 + 𝑃3 … … 𝑃𝑛
This sums up Dalton’s Law of Partial
Pressure which is true for real and perfect
gases.
Based on the Kinetic Theory of
Gases, the different molecules in a gas
mixture are too far apart, that they act
independently from each other and do not
react to one another. The pressure of an
ideal gas is dependent on its collision with
the container, not with the collision with the
molecules of other substances. A gas will
having an effect with the pressure of another
gas.
The atmosphere or more commonly
known as the air that we breathe in is
composed of a mixture of gases, most
notably Nitrogen and Oxygen. It is
composed of roughly 21% Oxygen, 78%
Nitrogen and 1% Argon (Wilmhurst, 1998).
The partial pressure for each component
may vary depending on the situation such as
when climbing a mountain or diving
underwater.
With the human body being an
aerobic organism that consumes oxygen
according to its metabolic demands, it is
quite a boon for humans to be living in an
environment, where there is an abundant
amount of Oxygen within the Earth’s
troposphere. Based on Dalton’s Law, it
establishes the idea that the partial pressure
of Oxygen and Nitrogen are dependent on
the barometric pressure and its fractional
concentration. (Ortiz-Prado, 2019)
Nitrogen, being the most abundant
gas present within the earth’s atmosphere,
plays a key role in the sustainment of life.
Much like how Oxygen maintains life in the
human body, Nitrogen determines certain
fundamentals of life, such as the extent of
plant growth, which in turn would have an
effect on the dynamics on the world’s food
supply. By the advent of the twentieth
century, mankind has discovered new ways
to make use of Nitrogen such as fertilizers
and fossil fuels which has revolutionized the
world. (Fields, 2004).
Carbon dioxide is stated to be an
essential trace gas in the Earth’s atmosphere.
The human body can produce a certain
amount of carbon dioxide when the body
metabolizes nutrients. When our bodies
inhale inspired air, which normally has a
higher oxygen rate than carbon dioxide
contrary to when we exhale expired air, it
has a higher amount of carbon dioxide as
compared to oxygen. As the human body is
an aerobic organism, it is a necessity to
match the amount of oxygen in the tissues
The amount of carbon dioxide present
within expired air is 4%-5% by volume of
the gas increased 100 fold over the initial
inhaled amount. (Patel, 2019)
Methodology
A. Determination of the Partial Pressure
of Oxygen in the Atmosphere
The large test tube was first filled
with water. Then, the water was transferred
in a graduated cylinder. The volume of the
water should be equal to the volume of the
test tube.
Next, a spatula of iron fillings was
transferred in the test tube, given the
condition that the inner wall should still be
moistened. The test tube was rolled on the
table to allow the iron fillings to stick on the
walls of the tube and the excess iron fillings
was removed by turning the test tube upside
down.
A 250mL beaker was then half-filled
with water. The prepared test tube was
clamped upside down inside the beaker with
its mouth completely submerged in water as
shown in Figure 1.
Figure 1. Experimental Set-up for
Determination of O2 in the Atmosphere
Afterwards, the beaker and test tube
were carefully stored for 4 days in an
isolated room inside the laboratory. A mark
was placed from the observed height of the
water that has risen inside the tube.
 The volume of air displaced by water
inside the test tube was computed using the
height displacement by water. The inner
radius of the test tube corresponded to the
volume of the Oxygen. The percent oxygen
in the atmosphere was then computed by
dividing the volume of oxygen with the
volume of the test tube then multiplied by
one hundred. The partial pressure of oxygen
in the atmosphere was also computed by
multiplying the percent oxygen in the
atmosphere with the atmospheric pressure.
B. Determination of the Partial Pressure
of Carbon Dioxide in the Atmosphere
An empty shell vial was lowered into
a 250-mL Erlenmeyer flask, where the vial
was made sure that it remains upright as
shown in Figure 2.
Figure 2. Filling a shell vial with NaOH
using a funnel in a flask
A funnel was then prepared and set
in the flask directly above the shell vial. A
small amount of 6M sodium hydroxide was
obtained in a small beaker. Afterwards, it
was poured through the funnel into the vial
until it was about three-fourths full. A small
amount of baby oil was poured into the vial
until it formed a thin layer of about 1 mm on
top to prevent the sodium hydroxide from
reacting to carbon dioxide.
The funnel was then removed, and
the set up shown in Figure 3 was prepared.
Figure 3. Flask, tubing, and vial setup for
carbon dioxide determination
The flask was tilted in order for the
shell vial to be tip over making the NaOH
solution to spill out, and swirled by holding
it only using fingers to avoid warming the
flask with the hands. It was continuously
swirled until there was no further change
happening in the water level, while making
sure that the end of the tube B remained
below the water level in the beaker.
Using a ruler, the distance between
the water level in the beaker and the water
level in the vertical glass tube B was
measured; the value was considered as the
partial pressure of CO2 in mmH2O. The
partial pressure of CO2 in mmHg was then
calculated by dividing the PCO2 in mm H2O
by 13.6, and the partial pressure of CO2 in
mmHg was divided by the recorded
atmospheric pressure in the laboratory.
C. Computing the Partial Pressure and
Percent Nitrogen in the Atmosphere.
With the use of the observed
atmospheric pressure and data in parts A and
B, the partial pressure of Nitrogen in the
atmosphere was determined. The percent
Nitrogen present in the atmosphere was also
computed based on its partial pressure in the
atmosphere.
Results and Discussion
Room Temperature: 24˚ C
Atmospheric Pressure: 747.8 mmHg
Dalton’s Law of Partial Pressure
states that the total pressure exerted by a
mixture of gases is the sum of the partial
pressures of the gases within the mixture.
A. Partial pressure of Oxygen
Volume of test tube = 73.00 mL
Volume of 𝑂2 in the atmosphere
= 16.74 mL
% of 𝑂2 in the atmosphere = 22.92 %
Partial pressure of 𝑂2 = 171.5 mmHg
B. Partial pressure of Carbon Dioxide
Height of water in the beaker
= 60.00 mm
Height of water in the tube = 64.06 mm
Partial pressure of 𝐶𝑂2 = 4.060 mm𝐻2 𝑂
Partial pressure of 𝐶𝑂2 = 0.2985 mmHg
Percent 𝐶𝑂2 in the atmosphere
= 0.0400 %
C. Partial pressure of Nitrogen
Partial pressure of 𝑁2 = 576.0 mmHg
Percent 𝑁2 in the atmosphere = 77.03 %
The atmosphere is composed of a
mixture of gases, most notably Nitrogen and
Oxygen, with percentages of 78% and 21%,
respectively. (Wilmhurst, 1998).
Based from the obtained data in the
experiment, the Nitrogen gas comprised
77.03% of the air. Compared to the values
from Wilmhurst’s, the standard error is 0.97.
It was followed by Oxygen having a
percentage of 22.92%, whereas, the standard
error is 1.92. Carbon dioxide had the last
percentage in the atmosphere among the
three gases, comprising 0.400%. Standard
error was used as a measure of statistical
accuracy and the obtain values were very
minimal.
The partial pressure of gas in as idea,
rather that something that can be measured.
As seen in Figure 4, the diagram illustrates
three different gases; A, B, and C. When by
itself in a container, each gas a specific
pressure.
Figure 4. Idea of Dalton’s Law of
Partial Pressure
Those same amounts all three pushed
into the same container again, resulting
to increase in the total number of moles,
and therefore, the total pressure. Even in
the mixture, the pressure from a
particular gas only results from the
particles of that same gas. The pressure
imparted by gas A itself is equal to the
number of moles only gas A ties the
absolute temperature multiplied to the
gas constant, and divided by the
volume. (Partial Pressure, n.d.).
Mathematically, it can be expressed as:
𝑛𝐴 𝑅𝑇
𝑃𝐴 =
𝑉
where,
𝑃𝐴 = partial pressure for gas A
𝑛𝐴 = moles of gas A
R = gas constant
T = Temperature (K)
V= Volume
 Determinations of the partial 0.0400% 𝐶𝑂2. Partial pressure was
pressures of CO2 and O2, can be used to computed and displayed results of 171.5
document the production-respiration balance mmHg 𝑂2, 576.0 mmHg 𝑁2 and 0.2985
of lakes, rivers, and oceans at the ecosystem mmHg 𝐶𝑂2.
level. (Carignan, 1998) This study can be applied in
The partial pressure of a gas identifying the specific composition of air
dissolved in a fluid can also be determined when the situation varied from the
using a catherer consisting of a double bored environment. It can also predict the
coaxial catherer, having an outer tube and a condition of weather.
spaced coaxial inner tube, the outer tube
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