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Explain the impact of an increase in pressure and an increase in temperature on the solubility of carbon dioxide in water - HSC - SSCE Chemistry - Question 23 - 2012 - Paper 1
Question 23
Explain the impact of an increase in pressure and an increase in temperature on the solubility of carbon dioxide in water. Include a relevant equation in your answer... show full transcript
Worked Solution & Example Answer:Explain the impact of an increase in pressure and an increase in temperature on the solubility of carbon dioxide in water - HSC - SSCE Chemistry - Question 23 - 2012 - Paper 1
Step 1
Impact of Increasing Temperature
Answer
Increasing the temperature generally decreases the solubility of gases in liquids. According to Le Chatelier's principle, if the temperature of the system is increased, the equilibrium will shift in the direction that absorbs heat. For the dissolution of carbon dioxide in water, this process is exothermic. Thus, an increase in temperature would favor the reverse reaction, resulting in a decrease in the solubility of carbon dioxide. This can be represented by the following equation:
Step 2
Impact of Increasing Pressure
Answer
Increasing the pressure has the opposite effect on the solubility of gases, including carbon dioxide. According to Henry's Law, the solubility of a gas in a liquid is directly proportional to the pressure of the gas above the liquid. Therefore, when the pressure is increased, the solubility of carbon dioxide in water will also increase. This can be visualized as the gas molecules being forced into the liquid, thereby raising the concentration of dissolved carbon dioxide.