Partial pressure and diffusion question

In summary, the speaker describes a closed system containing pure CO2 at atmospheric pressure, with an airlock that allows CO2 to escape but prevents air from entering without a significant pressure difference. They are concerned about the possibility of oxygen molecules entering the system through the airlock, but conclude that the rate of oxygen contamination is likely to be very low due to the small size of the water surface inside the tubing.
  • #1
FrankRizzo
1
0
I've got a closed system that consists of a glass container (non gas permeable) filled with pure CO2 at atmospheric pressure, with an airlock that will let CO2 escape if the pressure inside the system becomes higher (barometric pressure changes, etc.), but will not let air back into the system without a non-trivial pressure difference. The airlock is a piece of thick-walled vinyl tubing (negligible O2 permeability), immersed in a depth of tap water. Gas can bubble out, but a significant amount of water would have to be pushed up the tubing to let air into the system.

The way I figure it, because the system is devoid of oxygen (and nitrogen, etc...only concerned about O2), oxygen molecules are constantly bombarding the closed system at ~3psi (1atm X 21% O2 concentration in air).

Is there any real danger that the water in the airlock is actively absorbing oxygen, and transporting it to the rarefied chamber of pure CO2 on the other side?
 
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  • #2
Some Oxygen is always diluted in water, something around 6 ppm. Oxygen molecules are able to exit the water at the other side of the tubing and they will tend to do so since there are no Oxygen molecules to enter the water at that side, this way they can enter the Carbon Dioxide environment.

However, considering the size of the water surface inside the tubing, the rate of Oxygen contamination of the Carbon Dioxide environment will be very low.
 

Related to Partial pressure and diffusion question

1. What is partial pressure?

Partial pressure is the pressure exerted by a particular gas in a mixture of gases. It is the hypothetical pressure that gas would have if it occupied the same volume in a container by itself at the same temperature.

2. How is partial pressure calculated?

Partial pressure can be calculated by multiplying the total pressure of the gas mixture by the mole fraction of the gas in the mixture. The mole fraction is the number of moles of the gas divided by the total number of moles of all gases in the mixture.

3. What is diffusion?

Diffusion is the process by which molecules move from an area of high concentration to an area of low concentration. It is driven by the random motion of molecules and does not require any external energy.

4. How does partial pressure affect diffusion?

The difference in partial pressures between two areas is the driving force for diffusion. The greater the difference in partial pressures, the faster the rate of diffusion will be. This is because there is a greater concentration gradient between the two areas, leading to a higher rate of molecule movement.

5. What factors can affect partial pressure and diffusion?

Some factors that can affect partial pressure and diffusion include temperature, gas solubility, and the permeability of the barrier between the two areas. Additionally, the size and mass of the gas molecules can also impact the rate of diffusion.

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