If a higher vapor pressure agent is added to a vaporizer designed for a lower vapor pressure agent, the delivered concentration will be ______ than the setting.

When a higher vapor pressure agent is added to a vaporizer that is specifically designed for a lower vapor pressure agent, the delivered concentration will actually end up being higher than what is initially set on the vaporizer. This phenomenon occurs because vapor pressure is an indication of how readily a substance will evaporate; a substance with a higher vapor pressure will produce a greater concentration of vapors at a given temperature compared to a substance with a lower vapor pressure.

In this scenario, when the higher vapor pressure agent is introduced, it will dominate the vapor mixture. As a result, the concentration of the agent that is being delivered to the patient exceeds the intended concentration set on the vaporizer. Therefore, understanding the characteristics of the agents involved and their behavior in a vaporization system is crucial for safe and effective anesthetic practice.