What does partial pressure of oxygen mean?

1 Answer
anor277
Aug 15, 2016

The partial pressure of any gas in a gaseous mixture is the same as the pressure that gas would exert if it alone occupied the container.

Explanation:

Both you and I are currently breathing air at approx. #1*atm# pressure. In terms of partial pressures, this is #0.21*atm# #"dioxygen"#, and #0.79*atm# #"dinitrogen"#. The total pressure is the sum of the partial pressures.

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