Henry's law

American  

noun

Thermodynamics.

1. the principle that at a constant temperature the concentration of a gas dissolved in a fluid with which it does not combine chemically is almost directly proportional to the partial pressure of the gas at the surface of the fluid.

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Henry's law British  

noun

1. chem the principle that the amount of a gas dissolved at equilibrium in a given quantity of a liquid is proportional to the pressure of the gas in contact with the liquid

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Etymology

Origin of Henry's law

1885–90; named after William Henry (1774–1836), English chemist who devised it

Example Sentences

The civil lawsuit was filed by Henry's law firm on Thursday in Harris County, Texas and seeks up to $2 billion in damages.

From Fox News • Nov. 19, 2021

Use Henry’s law to determine the solubility of oxygen when its partial pressure is 20.7 kPa, the approximate pressure of oxygen in earth’s atmosphere.

From Textbooks • Feb. 14, 2019

The concentration of hydrogen in the palladium depends on the pressure of H2 gas applied, but in a more complex fashion than can be described by Henry’s law.

From Textbooks • Feb. 14, 2019

The rate at which this occurs follows Henry’s law, a physics rule that states that the solubility of gas in a liquid is proportional to the pressure of the gas above the liquid.

From Slate • Jun. 18, 2013

The gas does not obey Henry’s law, that is, its solubility in water is not proportional to its pressure.

From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 6, Slice 3 "Chitral" to "Cincinnati" by Various