the percentage of oxygen gas by volume in the earth's atomosphere is 21 %. you are visiting a planet with an atmosphere of entirely oxygen and argon. On this planet, the atmospheric pressure is about half that of earth at tsea level, but your instruments report the partial pressure of oxygen to be 160 mm Hg. Is there enough oxygen in the atmosphere for you to breath or will you need to wear a space suit?

Question

the percentage of oxygen gas by volume in the earth's atomosphere is 21 %. you are visiting a planet with an atmosphere of entirely oxygen and argon.  On this planet, the atmospheric pressure is about half that of earth at tsea level, but your instruments report the partial pressure of oxygen to be 160 mm Hg.  Is there enough oxygen in the atmosphere for you to breath or will you need to wear a space suit?

anonymous · Answer

This is tough to answer. My response is merely a guess from what might be flawed logic.

760 mmHg is the pressure for Earth. 21% of that is 159.6 mmHg. On this new planet if the pressure is half as much then it is 380 mmHg. Partial pressure of O2 is 160 mmHg so the percent O2 is 42.1%. Because there is half as much air then there needs to be twice as much O2 for us to survive. Which there is, barely. So my answer is yes we would be able to breath

anonymous · Answer

I'm interested to know what the correct answer is so when you find out, can you post it?

anonymous · Answer

yeah wait doing it right now

anonymous · Answer

can u repeat the 41% part again.. how u get it?

anonymous · Answer

i got 79.8 mm Hg <----- not sure if the unit is right

vincent-lyon.fr · Answer

On Earth, partial pressure of O2 is 760 x 0.21 = 159.6 mmHg
So the 160 mmHg on the planet are just the right partial pressure to breathe normally.