<正> By taking the effect of oxygen contents into account,a new set of formulae which representsthe oxygen potentials of H2O-H2 and H2O-H2-inerts gas mixtures has been derived.Classi-cal representation is only a particular case of it.Some of the variables affecting equilibriumatmosphere when trace oxygen is present and optimum preparation of the gas mixtures to min-imize errors have been discussed.The reliability of some of previous equilibrium experimentsunder the oxygen potentials controlled by H2O-H2 or H2O-H2-inerts gas mixtures has alsobeen criticized.