What is Henry's Law?
Henry's Law states that at a constant temperature, the amount of dissolved gas in a liquid is directly proportional to its partial pressure in the gas phase above the liquid.
Temperature Effects
Henry's constant varies with temperature according to the van 't Hoff equation:
- Solubility decreases with increasing temperature
- The relationship is approximately exponential
- Each gas has a unique temperature dependence
Applications
Henry's Law is crucial in many fields:
- Carbonated beverages industry
- Blood gas analysis in medicine
- Environmental science and water treatment
- Industrial gas separation processes
- Deep-sea diving safety calculations
Limitations and Deviations
Henry's Law has several limitations:
- Only valid for dilute solutions
- Assumes ideal behavior of gases
- Breaks down at high pressures
- Not applicable when chemical reactions occur