A mixture of nitrogen and oxygen with a higher percentage of oxygen than found in air is generally called what?

A mixture of nitrogen and oxygen with a higher percentage of oxygen than found in air is referred to as Nitrox. Nitrox is specifically formulated for diving purposes and typically contains between 22% to 40% oxygen, with the remainder being nitrogen. The advantage of using Nitrox is that divers can reduce nitrogen absorption, which can help in minimizing the risk of decompression sickness.

While compressed air consists of approximately 21% oxygen and 79% nitrogen, it does not qualify as having a higher oxygen percentage. Oxygen-enriched air generally refers to any air mixture with more oxygen than standard atmospheric levels, but it is often used in settings like medical applications rather than diving. Pure oxygen is composed of 100% oxygen, which is not suitable for most diving situations due to the toxic effects at certain pressures.

Therefore, Nitrox is the accurate term for a mixture with an elevated oxygen content used within the diving community, making it the correct choice in this context.