Question

The U. S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) sets limits on healthful levels of air pollutants. The maximum level that the EPA considers safe for lead air pollution is 1.5 μg/m3. If your lungs were filled with air containing this level of lead, how many lead atoms would be in your lungs? (Assume a total lung volume of 5.40 L .)

Answer 1

Conversion Factor

1m^3 = 1000 L

Mass of Lead in our Lungs = 1.5 ug/m^3 * 5.40L * 1m^3/1000L = 8.1 * 10^(-9) gms

Molar mass of Lead = 207.2

Number of moles of Lead = mass of Lead/molar mass

=> 8.1 * 10^(-9)/207.2

=> 3.90 * 10^(-11) moles

1 mole contains 6.023 * 10^(23) atoms

Hence number of lead atoms

=> 3.90 * 10^(-11) * 6.023 * 10^(23)

=> 2.349 * 10^(13) atoms