Air at sea level has a total pressure of 760 mm Hg…
Contributed by StemPy LabTry it on paper first. A hint, the key idea and the worked solution are here when you need them.
Air at sea level has a total pressure of mm Hg. It is per cent oxygen and per cent carbon dioxide.
- Find the partial pressure of oxygen.
- Find the partial pressure of carbon dioxide.
Need a reminder? The key ideaShow
The partial pressure of a gas is its share of the total pressure: . Gases diffuse from the higher partial pressure to the lower one. The rate depends on the gradient, the solubility of the gas and the thickness of the membrane. Carbon dioxide is to times more soluble than oxygen.
The worked solution
Have you tried it?
Work it out on paper first. It is fine to get stuck or make a mistake: that is how we learn. When you are ready, go through the solution one step at a time, and check each step against your own.
Given. Total pressure: mm Hg. Oxygen: per cent. Carbon dioxide: per cent.
Plan. The partial pressure of a gas is its share of the total pressure.
Step 1. Oxygen. mm Hg.
Step 2. Carbon dioxide. mm Hg, which is about mm Hg.
Answer: pO mm Hg and pCO mm Hg.
Check. The values match the and the of the textbook table.
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