Question

What is the significance of Henry's Law constant ${\mathrm{K}}_{\mathrm{H}}$?

Answer 1

Henry's law:

• “The law states that at a constant temperature, the solubility of a gas in a liquid is directly proportional to the partial pressure of the gas present above the surface of liquid or solution.”
• "Henry’s law states that “the partial pressure of the gas in the vapor phase $\left(p\right)$ is proportional to the mole fraction of the gas $\left(x\right)$ in the solution”.
• It can be expressed as:
• $p=K_H.x$, where $K_H$ is Henry's law constant.

Significance of Henry's law constant:

• The higher the value of Henry's law constant $K_H$ at a given pressure, the lower the solubility of the gas in the liquid.
• Thus, Henry's law plays an important role in atmospheric chemistry/environmental chemistry as well as wastewater treatment plants.