According to Dalton's Law, how is the total pressure of a gas mixture determined?

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Prepare for the NCEES FE Other Disciplines Exam with flashcards and multiple-choice questions, each question has hints and explanations. Get ready to excel in your engineering career!

Dalton's Law states that the total pressure exerted by a mixture of gases is equal to the sum of the partial pressures of each individual gas present in the mixture. This principle is rooted in the idea that each gas in a mixture behaves independently and contributes to the total pressure based on its own number of molecules and temperature, assuming the volume is constant.

Therefore, when calculating the total pressure of a gas mixture, you take into account the partial pressures of each gas, which can be determined from their respective mole fractions and the overall system pressure. This is a fundamental concept in thermodynamics and is essential for understanding gas behavior in mixtures, as it simplifies the calculation of pressures in various engineering applications.

The sum of partial pressures will give the total pressure, as long as all gases are at the same temperature and occupy the same volume. This law is applicable in various fields such as chemical engineering and environmental engineering, where gas mixtures are common.

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