What principle states that in a mixture of gases, each gas exerts its own pressure independently?

Dalton's Law of Partial Pressures states that in a mixture of gases, each gas exerts its own pressure independently of the others. This principle explains that the total pressure of a gas mixture is equal to the sum of the partial pressures of each individual gas present in the mixture. Each gas behaves as if it occupies the entire volume alone, regardless of the presence of other gases.

This principle is crucial in applications involving air conditioning and refrigeration systems, where different refrigerants might coexist and exert their own pressures, impacting the performance and efficiency of the system. Understanding this law allows technicians to calculate the total pressure in a gas mixture and to comprehend how varying concentrations of different gases can influence system behavior.

The other principles mentioned, while relevant in thermodynamics and gas behavior, do not specifically address the independence of pressures exerted by individual gases in a mixture. Pascal's Law relates to fluid pressure and how pressure applied to a confined fluid is transmitted equally in all directions. Boyle's Law concerns the relationship between the pressure and volume of a gas at constant temperature, while Charles' Law describes how gas volume increases with temperature when pressure is held constant. Each of these laws serves distinct purposes in understanding gas behavior but does not focus on the independent pressures in gas mixtures