When air (=21 mole% O2, 79 mole% N2) is placed in contact with 1000 cm3 of liquid water at body temperature, 36.9C, and 1 atm absolute, approximately 14.1 standard cubic centimeters [cm3(STP)] of gas are absorbed in the water at equilibrium. Subsequent analysis of the liquid reveals that 33.4 mole% of the dissolved gas is oxygen and the balanceis nitrogen.

(a) Estimate the Henry's law coefficients (atm/mole fraction) of oxygen and nitrogen at 36.9C.

(b) An adult absorbs approximately 0.4 g O2/min in the blood flowing though the lungs. Assuming that blood behaves like water and that it enters the lungs free of oxygen, estimate the flow rate of blood into the lungs in L/min.

(c) The actual flow rate of blood into the lungs is roughly 5 L/min. Identify the assumptions made in the calculation of part (b) that are likely causes of the discrepancy between the calculated and actual blood flows.