When a water beetle is placed in a laboratory situation where the atmosphere is

Question

When a water beetle is placed in a laboratory situation where the atmosphere is pure O2 and the water that the beetle is in is equilibrated with the atmosphere, after the beetle obtains a new bubble from the atmosphere, it cannot stay underwater for nearly as long as it can when the atmosphere is ordinary air. This is true because the bubble does not operate effectively as a gill. Explain. Assume (almost accurately) that CO2 added to the bubble diffuses quickly out of the bubble into the surrounding water. (Hint: What is the partial pressure of O2 in the water and in the bubble?

Explanation / Answer

The partial pressure of oxygen is very high in the air bubble produced by the beetle after inspiring air with pure oxygen than the combined partial pressures of mixture of gases when air bubble is produced by inspiring normal air. Partial pressure of oxygen is comparitively less when compared to the bubble containing pure oxygen. Therefore, bubble with pure oxygen lives for a short time in water when compared to air bubble formed by air.

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