Henry's law

Henry's Law (pronounced: /ˈhɛnriːz lɔː/) is a fundamental principle in the field of Chemistry and Physics. It was formulated by the British chemist, William Henry, in the early 19th century.

Etymology

The law is named after its formulator, William Henry, who first proposed the law in 1803.

Definition

Henry's Law states that at a constant temperature, the amount of a given gas that dissolves in a given type and volume of liquid is directly proportional to the partial pressure of that gas in equilibrium with that liquid. This can be mathematically represented as:

P = kH * c

where:

• P is the partial pressure of the gas in the atmosphere above the liquid,
• kH is the Henry's Law constant, which depends on the nature of the gas and the temperature,
• c is the concentration of the dissolved gas.

Applications

Henry's Law has numerous applications in the fields of Chemistry, Physics, Environmental Science, and Medicine. Some of the key applications include:

• In Scuba Diving: Understanding of Henry's Law is crucial in preventing decompression sickness, also known as 'the bends'.
• In Carbonated Drinks: The principle of Henry's Law is used in the carbonation process of soft drinks and beers.
• In Environmental Science: Henry's Law helps in understanding the distribution of pollutants between the atmosphere and bodies of water.

Related Terms

• Gas Laws
• Partial Pressure
• Solubility
• Decompression Sickness
• Carbonation

See Also

• Dalton's Law
• Boyle's Law
• Charles's Law

External links

• Medical encyclopedia article on Henry's law
• Wikipedia's article - Henry's law

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