On average, an adult person breathes in about 10 liters of air per minute. Assuming atmospheric pressure and 20°C air temperature, estimate the mass of air in kilograms that a person breathes in per day. The mass of air in kilograms that a person breathes in per day is ___ kg.

The mass of air in kilograms that a person breathes in per day is found toe be 17.352 kg.

Explanation:

The volume intake in the whole day will be given by:

Volume = V = (10 liter/min) (60 min / 1hr) (24 hr / 1 day)

V = (14400 liter) (0.001 m^3 / 1 liter)

V = 14.4 m^3/day

Temperture = 20°C = 293 k

Pressure = 1 atm = 101325 N/m²

General gas constant = R = 8.314 J/mol. k

Thus, using general gas equation:

PV = nRT

since, n = m/M

where, n = no. of moles of air

m = mass in grams of air

M = molecular mass of air = 28.97 g/mol

therefore,

PV = (m/M) RT

m = PVM/RT

m = (101325 N/m²) (14.4 m^3/day) (28.97 g/mol) / (8.314 J/mol. k) (293 k)

m = 17352 g/day

m = 17.352 kg/day