Megan is an advanced diver. When diving deeper, what should she remember about the increased solubility and the pressure of the N2 gas she is breathing in her tank
a. Hydrostatic pressure is in all directions.
b. Solubility increases with pressure.
c. The evaporation of nitrogen can occur.
d. Nitrogen can react with water.
b. Solubility increases with pressure.
When diving deeper, Megan should remember the following about the increased solubility and pressure of the N2 gas she is breathing in her tank:
b. Solubility increases with pressure: As the pressure increases with depth, the solubility of nitrogen gas in body tissues and fluids, such as blood, also increases. This is known as the increased solubility of nitrogen under pressure.
a. Hydrostatic pressure is in all directions: The hydrostatic pressure, which is the pressure exerted by the water column above, is in all directions when diving deeper. This pressure affects the solubility of gases in the body and can lead to various physiological effects, such as decompression sickness or "the bends," if not managed properly during ascent.
c. The evaporation of nitrogen can occur: As Megan breathes in compressed air from her tank during the dive, the increased pressure can cause the nitrogen to dissolve in her bloodstream and tissues. However, during ascent, as the pressure decreases, the excess dissolved nitrogen can come out of solution and form gas bubbles. This can lead to decompression sickness if Megan ascends too quickly without allowing the excess nitrogen to safely off-gas.
d. Nitrogen can react with water: Nitrogen gas itself does not readily react with water. However, other gases, such as carbon dioxide (CO2), can react with water to form carbonic acid, which can lead to a decrease in blood pH and potential physiological effects. It's important to note that this question specifically refers to nitrogen gas (N2) and not other gases that may be present in breathing gas mixtures.
In summary, Megan should remember that solubility increases with pressure, that hydrostatic pressure is in all directions, that the evaporation of nitrogen can occur during ascent, and that nitrogen gas itself does not react with water.
To answer this question, Megan needs to remember that solubility increases with pressure. This means that as she dives deeper and the pressure increases, the nitrogen gas she is breathing becomes more soluble in her body tissues.
The correct answer is b. Solubility increases with pressure.
To understand why this is the case, Megan can consider Henry's Law, which states that the solubility of a gas in a liquid is directly proportional to the partial pressure of the gas above the liquid. In simpler terms, the higher the pressure, the more gas can dissolve in the liquid.
In Megan's case, as she dives deeper, the hydrostatic pressure exerted by the water increases, causing the pressure of the nitrogen gas in her breathing tank to also increase. This increased pressure leads to higher solubility of nitrogen in her body tissues.
Answer choices a, c, and d are unrelated to the solubility and pressure of nitrogen gas during diving:
a. Hydrostatic pressure is in all directions: This choice refers to the fact that water exerts pressure uniformly in all directions, which is true, but it is not specifically related to the solubility of nitrogen gas.
c. The evaporation of nitrogen can occur: While evaporation of nitrogen can occur under certain conditions, it is not directly related to the solubility and pressure of the gas during diving.
d. Nitrogen can react with water: Nitrogen gas itself does not react with water under normal diving conditions, so this choice is not relevant to the question.