Solubility of Gasses in Liquids

Solubility of Gasses compared to Ionic Compounds Ionic compounds have a high level of solubility in liquids Measured in percent Gasses have a very low level of solubility in liquids Measured in ppm

Effect of Pressure on Gas Solubility Higher pressure increases the solubility of gas in liquids. Lower pressure decreases the solubility of gas in liquids.

Opening a Can of Pop When pop is put in a can, carbon dioxide is added under high pressure. The pop is saturated with carbon dioxide at the high pressure. The sealed can keeps the liquid and the gas dissolved in it at a high pressure.

Opening a Can of Pop con’t When a can is opened, the pressure drops suddenly. The carbon dioxide is now supersaturated in the liquid. Bubbles form until the carbon dioxide level is back to saturated.

Opening a Can of Pop con’t “Flat pop” is pop that is saturated with carbon dioxide.

Effect of Temperature on Gas Solubility As temperature increases, solubility of gas decreases. Warm pop can hold less carbon dioxide than cold pop. This causes warm pop to be more likely to fizz when opened than cold pop.

Oxygen Solubility and Aquatic Life Organisms that live underwater depend on gas that is dissolved in the water. Fish need oxygen in the water to breathe.

Effects of Temperature on Metabolism Fish are cold-blooded. Low temperature causes their bodies to slow down. High temperature causes their bodies to speed up.

Fish Death due to Decreased Oxygen Hot weather can cause fish to die. High temperature causes the amount of oxygen in the water to decrease. High temperature causes the fish to need more oxygen. Fish can suffocate from lack of oxygen in warm water.

Fish Death due to High Levels of Dissolved Gasses When water is supersaturated with gas, fish can die due to bubble trauma. The fish accumulates too much of the dissolved gas while breathing Bubbles form in the blood vessels of the fish and block blood flow, killing the fish.

Human Reaction to High Levels of Dissolved Gasses Humans can develop a similar disorder called “the bends” Scuba gear has gas under pressure. When a diver is in deep water, the pressure of the water causes extra gas to accumulate in the blood because the saturation point is higher.

Human Reaction to High Levels of Dissolved Gasses. (con’t) If a diver comes up the the surface too rapidly, the gas in the blood becomes supersatured. Bubbles form in the tissue of the diver causing severe pain and possibly death.