What happens to the partial pressures of gases as the barometric pressure changes?

The correct answer highlights a fundamental principle of gas behavior, which is described by Dalton's Law of Partial Pressures. This law states that in a mixture of gases, each gas exerts pressure independently of the others; the total pressure is the sum of the partial pressures of the individual gases. Thus, as the barometric pressure changes, the partial pressures of the individual gases in a gas mixture will change proportionally.

For instance, if the barometric pressure increases, the total pressure in the environment rises, leading to an increase in the partial pressures of all component gases (assuming constant temperature and composition). Conversely, if the barometric pressure decreases, the partial pressures of the gases will decrease accordingly. This relationship is crucial in various medical applications, such as understanding respiratory physiology and the behavior of gases within the human body under different environmental conditions.

In summary, the phenomenon where partial pressures change in direct relation to barometric pressure is essential for understanding how gases behave, particularly in clinical settings where medical gas administration and patient oxygenation might be affected by altitude or atmospheric variations.