A typical air sample in the lungs contains oxygen at 100 mmhg, nitrogen at 573 mmhg, carbon dioxide at 40 mmhg, and water vapor at 47 mmhg. part a why are these pressures called partial pressures
it is called the partial pressure because it is pressure that is exerted by each gas in a mixture of gases if it occupy the same volume of it own. the the partial pressure of oxygen in the air sample above is 100 mm hg, that of carbon dioxide is 40 mmhg, for water vapor 47 mmhg. and that of nitrogen is 573 mmhg
