Dalton’s law of Partial Pressure

 John Dalton (1766-1844) was an English chemist,

physicist, and meteorologist, best known for introducing
the atomic theory into chemistry and for his work on
human optics. Inspired by his own unusual perception of
colour, he conducted the first ever research into colour
blindness – a subject which subsequently became known
as Daltonism.
 Dalton's Law, or the Law of Partial Pressures, states that
the total pressure exerted by a mixture of gases is equal
to the sum of the partial pressures of the gases in the
mixture.

 For a mixture of ideal gases, the total pressure exerted by

the mixture equals the sum of the pressures that each gas
would exert on its own. This observation, known as
Dalton's law of partial pressures, can be written as
follows: P (total) = P ₁ + P ₂ + P ₃ + ...
 The pressure exerted by an individual gas in a mixture is
known as its partial pressure. Assuming we have a
mixture of ideal gases, we can use the ideal gas law to
solve problems involving gases in a mixture.
 Dalton's experiments on gases led to his discovery that the total
pressure of a mixture of gases amounted to the sum of the
partial pressures that each individual gas exerted while
occupying the same space. In 1803 this scientific principle
officially came to be known as Dalton's Law of Partial
Pressures.
 John Dalton's work on the behavior of gases was crucial in
laying the foundation for modern chemistry and our
understanding of the behavior of gases. His contributions were
groundbreaking and significantly advanced the field of
chemistry. Some of the key aspects of Dalton's work and their
importance include:
 Atomic Theory: Dalton proposed the atomic theory in the early 19th century,
which stated that all matter is made up of tiny, indivisible particles called
atoms. This theory was groundbreaking as it provided a framework for
understanding the behavior of gases based on the motion and interaction of
these particles. It led to a more systematic study of the properties of gases,
explaining their behavior in terms of atomic and molecular interactions.

 Partial Pressures: Dalton's law of partial pressures, formulated in 1801,

states that in a mixture of non-reacting gases, the total pressure exerted is
equal to the sum of the partial pressures of individual gases. This concept is
crucial in understanding the behavior of gas mixtures in various conditions,
such as in the atmosphere, industrial processes, and biological systems. It
forms the basis for understanding gas behavior in complex systems and is
essential in fields like chemical engineering and environmental science.
Law of Combining Volumes: Dalton observed that when gases react chemically,
they do so in simple whole-number ratios of their volumes. This led to the
formulation of the law of combining volumes, which contributed significantly to
the development of stoichiometry—the study of the quantitative relationships
between reactants and products in chemical reactions. Understanding these ratios
has been fundamental in determining the compositions of compounds and
predicting reaction outcomes.

Kinetic Theory of Gases: Although Dalton didn't directly propose the kinetic
theory of gases, his atomic theory laid the groundwork for its development. This
theory, which emerged later in the 19th century, describes gases as a collection of
particles in constant, random motion. It helps explain gas properties, such as
pressure, temperature, volume, and diffusion, in terms of the motion and
collisions of these particles. Dalton's atomic theory provided the conceptual
framework for understanding gases as collections of interacting particles.
 The formula is:
 Ptotal=P1+P2+P3+…
 Where PtotalPtotal​is the total pressure and P1​,P2​,P3​,… are
the partial pressures of each gas in the mixture.
 Example: Calculating Partial Pressures in a Gas Mixture
 Suppose you have a container containing a mixture of gases at
a total pressure of 3 atm. The mixture consists of oxygen (O2​)
at a partial pressure of 1.5 atm, nitrogen (N2​) at 1.2 atm, and
carbon dioxide (CO2​) at an unknown partial pressure. What is
the partial pressure of carbon dioxide?
 Given: Total pressure (Ptotal​) = 3 atm
 Partial pressure of O2​(PO2​​) = 1.5 atm
 Partial pressure of N2​(PN2​​) = 1.2 atm
 Using Dalton's law, the total pressure is the sum of the
partial pressures:
 Ptotal=PO2+PN2+PCO2
 Substitute the known values:
 3 atm=1.5 atm+1.2 atm+PCO2​​
 To find PCO2​​, rearrange the equation:
 PCO2= 3 atm-(1.5 atm+1.2 atm)
 PCO2= 3 atm – 2.7 atm
 PCO2= 0.3 atm
 Therefore, the partial pressure of carbon dioxide (CO2​) in the
mixture is 0.30.3 atm.
 Conclusion
 Dalton's contributions were groundbreaking, providing a
framework that significantly advanced the understanding
of matter, chemical reactions, and the behavior of gases.
His work not only shaped the field of chemistry during
his time but continues to be relevant and influential in
contemporary scientific research and education.