Answer to Question #95163 in Chemistry for Henry Fisher

Question

The air quality standard for carbon monoxide is 9 ppm. If we stepped into an air source that contains 9 ppm CO, and took one deep breath, how many molecules of CO would we inhale? [Our total lung capacity is about 1 liter, and it is estimaed that one liter of air contains about 2*10^22 molecules of air]

Answer 1

During the inhalation, totally 2×10²² molecules of air enter the lungs. This air contains 9 ppm CO molecules. As 1 ppm = 1/1,000,000 = 10^-6, the inhaled air contains 2×10²² × 9×10^-6 = 18×10¹⁶ molecules of carbon monoxide.

Answer: 18×10¹⁶ molecules of CO.