Which gas law explains why nitrogen leaves dissolved tissue during ascent, contributing to decompression sickness?

Which gas law explains why nitrogen leaves dissolved tissue during ascent, contributing to decompression sickness?

• A. Charles' Law
• B. Dalton's Law
• C. Boyle's Law
• D. Henry's Law

Answer: (D)

Henry's law describes how much nitrogen can stay dissolved in tissues at a given partial pressure of nitrogen in contact with the tissue. At depth, breathing compressed air raises the partial pressure of nitrogen, so more nitrogen dissolves into tissues. As you ascend and ambient pressure falls, the nitrogen's partial pressure decreases and its solubility in tissue drops; if the tissue becomes supersaturated, dissolved nitrogen forms bubbles in the tissues and blood, leading to decompression sickness. The other laws don’t explain solubility in liquids: Charles' Law relates gas volume to temperature, Boyle's Law relates pressure and volume at constant temperature, and Dalton's Law concerns partial pressures in a gas mixture.

Henry's law describes how much nitrogen can stay dissolved in tissues at a given partial pressure of nitrogen in contact with the tissue. At depth, breathing compressed air raises the partial pressure of nitrogen, so more nitrogen dissolves into tissues. As you ascend and ambient pressure falls, the nitrogen's partial pressure decreases and its solubility in tissue drops; if the tissue becomes supersaturated, dissolved nitrogen forms bubbles in the tissues and blood, leading to decompression sickness. The other laws don’t explain solubility in liquids: Charles' Law relates gas volume to temperature, Boyle's Law relates pressure and volume at constant temperature, and Dalton's Law concerns partial pressures in a gas mixture.