Partial pressure and diffusion question

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SUMMARY

The discussion centers on the dynamics of oxygen diffusion into a closed system containing pure CO2, facilitated by an airlock submerged in water. The airlock allows CO2 to escape but restricts air from entering without a significant pressure difference. It is established that while oxygen can dissolve in water and potentially diffuse into the CO2 environment, the rate of contamination is minimal due to the low solubility of oxygen (approximately 6 ppm) and the lack of oxygen molecules in the CO2 chamber. Thus, the risk of significant oxygen transfer into the CO2 environment is negligible.

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  • Understanding of gas laws and partial pressure concepts
  • Knowledge of diffusion principles in closed systems
  • Familiarity with gas solubility in liquids
  • Basic principles of pressure differentials and their effects on gas exchange
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  • Research the principles of gas solubility, focusing on Henry's Law
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This discussion is beneficial for chemists, environmental scientists, and anyone involved in gas management in closed systems, particularly those working with carbon dioxide and oxygen interactions.

FrankRizzo
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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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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.
 

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