Problem 10 - Biology Concepts and Applications

Question

The warmer water is, the ________ oxygen it can hold. a. more b. less

Step-by-Step Solution

Answer

The warmer water is, the less oxygen it can hold.

Step 1: Understanding the Relationship Between Temperature and Solubility

The question is about how temperature affects the amount of oxygen water can hold. We need to understand that the capacity of water to hold gases decreases with an increase in temperature.

Step 2: Analyzing Options

We have two options: a) More b) Less Since warmer water holds fewer gases, 'less' is the appropriate choice for this fill-in-the-blank.

Step 3: Filling the Blank

Based on our analysis, the warmer the water, the less oxygen it can hold. Therefore, we fill in the blank with 'less.'

Key Concepts

Temperature and Gas Solubility

When considering the solubility of gases in liquids, temperature plays a crucial role. Generally, as the temperature of a liquid increases, the solubility of gases within it decreases. This means that warmer liquids can hold fewer gas molecules compared to colder ones.

• Colder water can dissolve more gases because the gas molecules move more slowly and are more easily trapped between water molecules.
• In warmer water, gas molecules have more kinetic energy, moving rapidly and escaping from the liquid more easily. Hence, they are less soluble.

Understanding this principle is important in various applications, including preserving aquatic life and in different industrial processes where gas solubility is a factor. Always remember the inverse relationship between temperature and gas solubility: as temperature goes up, solubility of gas goes down.

Oxygen in Water

Oxygen is a critical component for many life forms, especially aquatic organisms. For these organisms, the presence of dissolved oxygen in water is vital for their survival. Oxygen enters the water from the surrounding air and through photosynthesis by aquatic plants.

• Cooler water holds more dissolved oxygen than warmer water, providing better conditions for fish and other aquatic organisms.
• In warm water, the oxygen level can decrease to a point where it becomes difficult for aquatic life to survive.

Such conditions are crucial to consider for ecological balance in natural water bodies, as well as in managed aquatic systems like aquariums and fish farms. Ensuring the right balance of dissolved oxygen is key to maintaining a healthy aquatic ecosystem.

Relationship Between Temperature and Solubility

The relationship between temperature and solubility of gases is a key concept in chemistry and environmental science. It is generally observed that, with gases, solubility decreases as temperature increases. This is because as a liquid becomes warmer:

• The kinetic energy of gas molecules increases, causing them to escape the liquid phase more easily.
• This means fewer molecules remain dissolved within the liquid.

This concept impacts real-world scenarios extensively. For instance, in natural water bodies, an increase in temperature due to climate change or pollution can lead to decreased levels of dissolved oxygen. This can significantly affect aquatic life health and biodiversity. When studying or applying concepts related to solubility, always recall how temperature changes can directly influence the amount of a gas that a liquid can hold.