GAS LAWS RELATED TO RESPIRATION

Question 1

How does Boyle’s law relate to respiration?

Answer 1

The movement of air into and out of the lungs occurs as a result of pressure difference induced by changes in lung volume. I.e the higher the volume of air in the lungs, the lower the pressure and vice versa.

Question 2

According to Boyle’s law, what happens during inspiration?

Answer 2

There is an increase in lung volume which causes a decrease in the intrapulmonary pressure when compared to the atmospheric pressure, so air rushes in the lungs.

Question 3

Explain Expiration according to Boyle’s law.

Answer 3

Expiration is a decrease in lung volume. The lung pressure increase than the atmospheric pressure, causing air to rush out of the lungs.
This is because air moves from a place of high partial pressure to a place of low partial pressure(diffusion).

Question 4

Boyle’s law was put forward by who?

Answer 4

An Anglo Irish Chemist named Robert Boyle in year 1662

Question 5

State Henry’s law

Answer 5

It states that: at a constant temperature, the amount of a given gas that dissolves in a given type and volume of liquid is directly proportional to partial pressure of that gas in equilibrium to that liquid

Question 6

How does Henry’s law apply to respiration?

Answer 6

The main application of Henry’s law in respiration is to predict how gases dissolve in the alveoli and blood stream (capillaries) during gaseous exchange. The amount of oxygen that dissolves in the blood stream is directly proportional to the partial pressure in the alveolar air.

Question 7

The partial pressure of oxygen is greater in ______ than in _______, so oxygen has a high tendency to dissolve in _______.

Answer 7

Alveolar air; deoxygenated blood; deoxygenated blood.

Question 8

Explain Dalton’s law

Answer 8

Dalton’s law of partial pressure states that the pressure of a mixture of gases is the sum of the pressure of their individual components.