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Chemistry · Ch 9 — Solutions

Limitations of Henry's Law

9.5.1

Limitations of Henry's Law

Henry's law is a useful approximation, not a universal law -- it has well-defined limits:

  • It applies only at moderate temperature and pressure; it breaks down under extreme conditions.
  • Only comparatively less-soluble gases obey it well.
  • Gases that chemically react with the solvent do not obey it, because Henry's law describes purely physical dissolution. For example, both ammonia and hydrogen chloride react with water rather than simply dissolving: NH3+H2O⇌NH4++OH−\mathrm{NH_3 + H_2O \rightleftharpoons NH_4^+ + OH^-} …
Misc Evaluate Yourself 7Proportion of O2 and N2 dissolved in water from air

Worked out. An in-text practice box: calculate the proportion of O2_2 and N2_2 dissolved in water at 298 K when air containing 20% O2_2 and 80% N2_2 by volume is in equilibrium with it at 1 atm pressure, given KH(O2)=4.6×104K_H(O_2)=4.6\times10^{4} atm and KH(N2)=8.5×104K_H(N_2)=8.5\times10^{4} atm. …

Misc Evaluate Yourself 8Why aquatic species prefer cold water in winter

Worked out. An in-text practice box: explain why aquatic species are more comfortable in cold water during winter rather than in warm water during summer (i.e. relate it to the temperature-dependence of gas solubility from section 9.4.1). …

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