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 5.60 l .)

If the maximum level that the EPA considers safe for lead air pollution is 1.5 μg/m³ and the total lung volume is 5.60 L, then 2.44 ×10¹³ atoms of lead will be in the lungs.

FURTHER EXPLANATION

The solution to this problem involves multistep dimensional analysis using the conversion factors below:

1.5 μg lead = 1 m³ of air1 m³ = 1000 L1 mol of lead = 207.2 g of lead1 g = 10⁶ μg1 mol lead = 6.022×10²³ lead atoms1. To solve the problem, first convert the volume of the lungs to m³.

2. Determine how many lead atoms are present if the whole volume of the lungs is filled with air.

3. Convert the mass of lead into moles of lead.

4. Determine how many atoms are in the given moles of lead using Avogadro's number.

Since the number of significant figures in the given is 3 (5.60 L), the final answer must also be expressed with 3 significant figures. Therefore,

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Dimensional Analysis Stoichiometry

Keywords: unit conversion, lead