Question

The proportions of various gases in the earth’s atmosphere change somewhat with altitude. Would you expect the proportion of oxygen at high altitude to be greater or less than at sea level compared to the proportion of nitrogen? Why?

Short answer

As we will go up in the atmosphere (higher altitude) the proportion of the oxygen will be lesser as compared to the nitrogen because gravitational pull on the oxygen molecule will be higher than the nitrogen molecule

Step-by-step solution

About the Gravitational force of Earth

The gravity of Earth, denoted by ${\mathbf{F}}_{\mathbf{g}}$, is the net attractive force applied by the earth on the objects near its surface, by virtue of its mass.It is a vector quantity, which is directed toward the centre of the earth.

Determine the proportion of the oxygen at high altitude and compared to nitrogen 

As the mass of the oxygen molecule is higher than nitrogen, the gravity due to the earth on the molecule of oxygen is higher than that of nitrogen. Therefore, thegravitationalpull on the oxygen molecule will be higher than the nitrogen molecule. Thus, oxygen molecules would be closer to the earth’s surface than nitrogen.

So, as we will go up in the atmosphere (higher altitude) the proportion of the oxygen will be lesser as compared to the nitrogen