What is the total pressure if an anaesthetic gas is delivered at 330⋅mm⋅Hg pressure?

1 Answer
anor277
Nov 25, 2016

The question is not well-proposed....

Explanation:

If an anaesthetic gas is administered, unless you are in a hyperbaric chamber (for instance after a diving emergency) the total pressure is 1⋅atm, i.e. enough to support a 760⋅mm⋅Hg column.

The sum of the individual partial pressures of whatever gases you are inhaling is thus 1⋅atm. On this basis, the partial pressure of oxygen is 430⋅mm⋅Hg ≅0.6⋅atm,

However, this question proposes that a total pressure of 760⋅mm⋅Hg (dioxygen)+330⋅mm⋅Hg (cyclopropane) is administered. This is not the way that anaesthetic gases are administered; the total pressure must be atmospheric, and the individual partial pressures after they exit the regulator on the tank sum to one atmosphere.

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