Refer to the Figure Showing Various Gas Exchange Systems

Multiple Choice

Refer to the figure showing various gas exchange systems.Recall that Fick's law of diffusion is Q = DA(P₁ - P₂) /L. The term D in the equation for Fick's law of diffusion depends in part on the _______, indicating that this term is higher for the diffusion of O₂ in the organism(s) shown in _______.

A) medium; A and B because O₂ diffuses faster in water than in air
B) medium; C and D because O₂ diffuses faster in air than in water
C) area across which the gas is diffusing; C because it has the largest surface area for exchange of respiratory gases
D) the path length for diffusion; D because every cell is next to an air capillary
E) partial pressure of the gas that is diffusing; A and B because the partial pressure of O₂ is higher in water than in air