Final answer:
The correct option is C). Carbon dioxide will diffuse faster into the water than oxygen will, despite having the same partial pressure, due to its higher solubility.
Step-by-step explanation:
If carbon dioxide and oxygen both have the same partial pressure gradient from a gas mixture into water, the correct answer is that C. carbon dioxide will diffuse into the water at a faster rate than oxygen. This is because, despite having the same partial pressure, carbon dioxide is more soluble in water than oxygen. This increased solubility is due to carbon dioxide's chemical properties, which allow it to form carbonic acid when it dissolves in water, enhancing its solubility.
Henry's law explains that the amount of gas that dissolves in a liquid at equilibrium is proportional to its partial pressure in the gas phase, but other factors such as solubility also play a vital role in determining the rate at which gases dissolve. Carbon dioxide has a higher solubility in water than oxygen, so even with identical partial pressures, carbon dioxide will move into water more readily, reaching equilibrium more quickly.