Question

1. Why is it necessary to equalize the pressure(i.e, have the water level the same in each tube) before taking a volume reading?

Answer 1

Answer:

If you contact water with a gas at a certain temperature and (partial) pressure, the concentration of the gas in the water will reach an equilibrium ('saturation') according to Henry's law.

Explanation:

This means: if you increase the pressure (e.g. by keeping the vial closed), the CO2 concentration will increase. So it simply depends what concentration you need for your assay: 'CO2-saturated' water at low pressure or 'CO2-saturated' water at high pressure.