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Composition of Earth's Atmosphere by Mass

 
 
gollum
 
Reply Wed 26 Aug, 2015 12:57 pm
The earth's atmosphere is 20.95% oxygen by volume. What is the percent oxygen by mass?
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Type: Question • Score: 2 • Views: 658 • Replies: 4
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timur
 
  1  
Reply Wed 26 Aug, 2015 02:07 pm
@gollum,
It's 23.19%..
gollum
 
  1  
Reply Wed 26 Aug, 2015 02:09 pm
@timur,
timur-

Thank you.

What is your source?
timur
 
  2  
Reply Wed 26 Aug, 2015 02:14 pm
@gollum,
I made the final calculation based on these numbers:

Source
gollum
 
  1  
Reply Wed 26 Aug, 2015 03:04 pm
@timur,
timur-

Thank you.

So, in that earth's atmosphere is a lower percentage (20.95%) by volume than by mass (23.19%), therefore oxygen is heavier than air, and therefore the oxygen tends to stay in the lowest part of the atmosphere closest to the surface of the earth. If the numbers were reversed then oxygen would be lighter than air, and therefore would tend to rise well above the surface of the earth and thus not be available to initiate life on earth.

Is that true?
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