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Lowering of the Saturation Solubility of Oxygen by the Presence of Another Gas

Nature Physical Science volume 239, pages 31–32 (1972)Cite this article

Abstract

A STUDY by Maharajh and Walkley1 of the apparent reduction of oxygen solubility in the presence of a second gas ignores a considerable body of literature evidence in conflict with their conclusions. Their assertion that few determinations have been made of the solubility of oxygen in the presence of nitrogen is incorrect. Equilibration of water with pure oxygen at various partial pressures has been used in several investigations of saturation solubility2–9. Many other determinations of this quantity have been made by equilibrating the liquid phase with air and subsequently determining the dissolved oxygen by chemical means5,7,10–13. The solubility coefficients for oxygen in distilled water obtained over the past eighty years by these two methods show no significant difference7 (range about 2.5% at 25° C for all studies quoted). Morris, Stumm and Galal5 used both approaches in a single investigation.

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References

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  1. Institute of Coastal Oceanography and Tides, Bidston Observatory, Birkenhead, Cheshire

    T. R. S. WILSON

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  1. T. R. S. WILSON
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WILSON, T. Lowering of the Saturation Solubility of Oxygen by the Presence of Another Gas. Nature Physical Science 239, 31–32 (1972). https://doi.org/10.1038/physci239031a0

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