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Re:O2 and CO2 solubility
i don't know what exactly is said in limnology but,
unless i'm gravely mistaken, it makes no chemical sense
for co2 to be very soluble in water or for O2 not to be
soluble. oxygen is a very polar molecule and forms
hydrogen bonds with water very easily. carbon dioxide,
despite carying two polar oxygen groups, is actually a
linear molecule and ends up have very little dipole
moment. it is therefore hydrophobic. as for
"diffusivity", the diffusion constant for oxygen in
water is, if i remember correctly, on the order of
10^-15, ie very very very fast. i have witnessed this
myself from fluorescence quenching experiments. if, on
the other hand, we are talking about diffusion through
membranes, it is true that co2 will pass readily through
a membrane for exactly the reason it is not readily
soluble in water. all of this discussion is, however,
largely inaccesible and totally unnecessary in the face
of the common wisdom on the mailing list. that's my
two cents
regards
elie