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Q. The diffusing capacity for carbon dioxide compared to that for oxygen is

Breathing and Exchange of Gases

Solution:

Diffusion of $CO _{2}$ occurs from the lungs' capillary blood to the alveoli due to difference in pressures. Although this $CO _{2}$ diffusion gradient is only one tenth of the $O _{2}$ gradient, $CO _{2}$ diffuses 20 times more rapidly than $O _{2}$ because it is 25 times more soluble in body fluids. The average $CO _{2}$ pressure in the capillary blood is $46\, mm\,Hg$ as opposed to $40 \,mm\,Hg$ in alveoli. Whereas, normal $O _{2}$ pressure is $100\, mm\,Hg$ in alveoli and $40 \,mm\,Hg$ in lung capillaries.