Assume a certain adult requires 2.4 * 102 mL of pure oxygen per minute and assume inhaled air contains 20.0 percent oxygen by volume and exhaled air is 16.0 percent. (Also, assume that the volume of inhaled air is equal to that of the exhaled air.) If the person breathes 12.0 times every minute, what is the volume of air per breath?

volume of air breath = 495.75 mL per min

Explanation:

given data

oxygen required = 2.4 * 10² mL / Min = 240 mL

inhaled air = 20 %

exhaled air = 16 %

to find out

volume of air per breath

solution

we know here that breathes 12 time every minute

and we consider here air breath = y per min

we know oxygen remain in body = 20 % - 16 % = 4%

and required 12 time air breath

so air required = 240 / 12 = 19.83 mL

so oxygen breath equation will be

y * 4% = 19.83

y = 19.83 / 0.04

y = 495.75

so volume of air breath = 495.75 mL per min