Gases Flashcards
What is the summation of the major gas laws?
PV=nRT
What is the overall concept of Boyle’s Law?
At constant temperature, the volume of a gas is inversely proportional to the pressure it exerts
What is the overall concept of Avogadro’s Law?
Equal volume of gas at the same temperature and pressure contain the same number of molecules
What is the overall concept of Charles’ Law?
At a constant pressure, the volume of a gas is proportional to its absolute temperature
What is the “R” in PV=nRT?
Gas constant
What is the overall concept of Graham’s Law?
Rate of diffusion of a gas is inversely proportional to the square root of its molecular weight
What is the overall concept of Henry’s Law?
The quantity of gas that can dissolve in a fluid is equal to the partial pressure of the gas multiplied by the solubility coefficient
What is the overall concept of Dalton’s Law of Partial Pressures?
The pressure exerted by a mixture of gases is equal to the sum of the individual partial pressure exerted by each gas
What is the vapor pressure of water?
Pressure that is exerted by the water molecules to escape from the liquid to air
The vapor pressure of water is due to what action?
Molecular motion
The vapor pressure of water is proportional to what?
Temperature
At body temperature (37 degrees Celsius), what is the vapor pressure of water?
47 mmHg
What effect does increased temperature have on molecular motion?
Increased
If temperature increase, how is the vapor pressure of water affected?
Also increases
What two gasses change in number the most dramatically as air goes from the atmosphere into our lungs?
Water vapor and carbon dioxide
What happens to the atmospheric air as it goes from the atmosphere into our lungs?
Dilution of water vapor from respiratory passageways and CO2 from the blood
What gasses diminish as the atmospheric air enters our lungs?
Nitrogen and oxygen
What are the most abundant gasses in the atmospheric air?
Nitrogen, oxygen, and argon (in that order)
What is the relationship between respiratory membrane diffusion and temperature?
Proportional (but temperature stays relatively constant)
What is the relationship between respiratory membrane diffusion and solubility?
Proportional
What is the relationship between respiratory membrane diffusion and cross-sectional area?
Proportional (but area varies overall)
What is the relationship between respiratory membrane diffusion and the square root of molecular weight?
Inversely proportional (but weight is fixed)
What is the relationship between respiratory membrane diffusion and the concentration gradient?
Proportional (gradient varies)
What is the relationship between respiratory membrane diffusion and the distance involved?
Inversely proportional (distance varies)
Solubility and the square root of molecular weight are considered what features?
Properties of the gas (therefore are constant)
Which is more diffusible: carbon dioxide or oxygen?
CO2 by 20X
Which is more diffusible: nitrogen or oxygen?
Oxygen (nitrogen is half as diffusible)
Where are oxygen levels lower: atmosphere or alveoli?
Alveoli
Where are carbon dioxide levels higher: atmosphere or alveoli?
Alveoli
What makes up the two layers of the respiratory membrane?
Alveolar epithelium, capillary endothelium
About how thick is the respiratory membrane?
.5-.6 microns
What is the total surface area of the respiratory membrane?
50-100 square meters
About how many milliliters of pulmonary capillary blood is seen in the respiratory membrane?
60-140 mL
When does oxygen diffusion of the respiratory membrane increase?
Exercise
As one expires a normal tidal volume (500 mL), how do oxygen and carbon dioxide levels change?
Oxygen falls, carbon dioxide rises
What makes up the middle 150 mL of expired air?
Mixture of dead space and alveolar air