Q. 9.86 - An Introduction to General, Organic, and Biological Chemistry

Question

How do temperature and pressure affect the solubility of solids and gases in water?$(9.3)$

Step-by-Step Solution

Answer

As a conclusion, raising the pressure of a gas improves its solubility. When solids are highly viscous, alterations in pressure have no impact on their solubility.

Step 1: Given information

Determine the temperature and pressure affect the solubility of solids and gases in water.

Step 2: Introduction

Rises in temperature improve the solubility of solids in water, but reduce the solubility of gases in water because temperature increases produce an increase in the number of stimulated atoms or molecules of gases.

Changes in pressure have essentially no effect on the solubility of solids and liquids. However, gases are highly dependent on the system's pressure. Solutions are formed when gases dissolve in liquids. This dissolution is an equilibrium process with a measurable equilibrium constant.

Step 3: Explanation.

Henry's law states that the solubility of a gas in a liquid is proportional to its pressure above the liquid. As a result, increasing the pressure of a gas increases its solubility. Because solids are incompressible, variations in pressure have no effect on their solubility.