Chapter 3, Problem 102A

a)

Interpretation Introduction

Interpretation : The balloons filled with oxygen and balloons filled with nitrogen rise or sink in the air to be described.

Concept Introduction : The connectivity between mass and volume is density. The formula of density is given as:

  $\text{Density =}\frac{\text{mass}}{\text{volume}}$

Answer to Problem 102A

The density of nitrogen is smaller than the density of the air, so the balloons filled with nitrogen rise up. The density of oxygen is higher than the density of the air, so the balloon filled with oxygen sinks.

Explanation of Solution

To describe the movement of balloons filled with nitrogen, and oxygen released into the atmosphere, the density of these gases are compared with air density.

The density of air is $1.20\text{g/L}$ .

The density of nitrogen is $1.17\text{g/L}$ .

The density of oxygen is $1.33\text{g/L}$ .

When the density of the gases was higher than the density of the air, the balloon would sink otherwise the balloon will rise.

Since nitrogen has a lesser density than air, the nitrogen balloon rises. The oxygen has a higher density than air, so the oxygen balloon sinks.

b)

Interpretation Introduction

Interpretation : The gas that is the main component of air is to be found and explained.

Concept Introduction : The connectivity between mass and volume is density. The formula of density is given as:

  $\text{Density =}\frac{\text{mass}}{\text{volume}}$

Answer to Problem 102A

The major component of air is nitrogen which is composed of nearly 75% and its density is also closer to air.

Explanation of Solution

Density is defined as the ratio of mass to volume. It gives the connectivity between mass and volume.

The formula of density is given as:

  $\text{Density =}\frac{\text{mass}}{\text{volume}}$

The density of air is $1.20\text{g/L}$ .

The density of nitrogen is $1.17\text{g/L}$ .

The density of oxygen is $1.33\text{g/L}$ .

Nitrogen is the major component of air that covers nearly 75% while oxygen is air is less.

The density of nitrogen is also closer than air which proves that the major component of air is nitrogen.

The density of air and oxygen is a bit far and the composition of oxygen is also less.