Dalton’s Law of Partial Pressures

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Partial Pressure Noun

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[par-shul presh-er]

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Partial Pressure

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The pressure that would be exerted by one of the gases in a mixture if it occupied the same volume on its own.

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Example: This diagram shows that the total pressure in a container of mixed gases is the sum of the individual pressures (partial pressures) of each gas.

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Total Pressure Noun

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[toh-tl presh-er]

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Total Pressure

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The overall pressure of a gas mixture, which is the sum of the individual partial pressures of each component gas.

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Example: This diagram shows that when different gases are combined in one container, their individual (partial) pressures add up to create the total pressure.

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Dalton's Law Noun

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[dawl-tunz law]

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Dalton's Law

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The principle that the total pressure of a non-reactive gas mixture is the sum of its individual partial pressures.

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Example: This image shows that when two gases are mixed in a container, their individual pressures (partial pressures) add up to create the total pressure of the mixture.

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Gas Mixture Noun

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[gas miks-cher]

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Gas Mixture

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A substance composed of two or more different gases that are physically mixed but not chemically bonded together.

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Example: This image shows that when different gases are mixed in a container, their individual pressures (partial pressures) add up to the total pressure of the mixture.

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Water Displacement Noun

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[wah-ter dis-pleys-muhnt]

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Water Displacement

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A laboratory technique for collecting a gas in a container by filling it with water and then displacing the water.

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Example: This diagram shows gas being produced and bubbled through water into an inverted cylinder, pushing the water down. This method, water displacement, is used to collect gases.

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Water Vapor Noun

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[wah-ter vey-per]

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Water Vapor

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The gaseous phase of water, which exerts its own partial pressure when present in a mixture of gases.

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Example: This image shows that when liquid water is heated by the sun, it turns into a gas called water vapor, which rises into the air.

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Non-reactive Gases Noun

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[non-ree-ak-tiv gas-iz]

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Non-reactive Gases

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Gases within a mixture that do not undergo chemical reactions with each other, a necessary condition for Dalton's Law.

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Example: When non-reactive gases are mixed in a container, the total pressure is the sum of the individual pressures each gas would exert if it were alone.

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Atmosphere (atm) Noun

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[at-muh-sfeer]

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Atmosphere (atm)

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A standard unit of pressure defined as the average atmospheric pressure experienced at sea level on Earth, about 101.3 kPa.

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Example: This diagram shows that Earth's atmosphere is a mixture of gases with specific percentages, which is the basis for applying Dalton's Law of Partial Pressures.

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Kilopascal (kPa) Noun

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[kil-oh-pas-kal]

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Kilopascal (kPa)

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A metric unit of pressure in the International System of Units, equivalent to one thousand pascals (Pa).

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Example: This pressure gauge is a real-world tool that measures total gas pressure in units like kilopascals (kPa), such as the air pressure inside a tire.

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Millimeters of Mercury (mmHg) Noun

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[mil-i-mee-terz uv mur-kyoo-ree]

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Millimeters of Mercury (mmHg)

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A manometric unit of pressure, defined as the pressure exerted at the base of a one-millimeter-high column of mercury.

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Example: This diagram shows how atmospheric pressure supports a column of mercury 760 millimeters high, which is the basis for the pressure unit 'mmHg'.