Paramagnetic oxygen — FRCA Primary MCQ

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HardPhysicsParamagnetic oxygenFRCA Primary

Which physical property permits a paramagnetic oxygen analyser to measure oxygen concentration?

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Correct answer: E — Oxygen is attracted into a magnetic field

The best answer is “Oxygen is attracted into a magnetic field”. Oxygen is paramagnetic and is attracted into a magnetic field; paramagnetic analysers exploit this property. Infrared analysers measure gases such as carbon dioxide and volatile agents, while other techniques use electrochemical or thermal-conductivity principles.

Reference: RCoA, Primary FRCA Syllabus: https://rcoa.ac.uk/sites/default/files/documents/2026-01/Primary-FRCA-Syllabus.pdf