What effect does temperature have on the solubility of gases in liquids?

Increased temperature generally decreases the solubility of gases in liquids due to the nature of gas-liquid interactions. When the temperature rises, the kinetic energy of the gas molecules increases, causing them to move more vigorously. This increased movement allows gas molecules to escape from the liquid into the air more readily, leading to a decrease in solubility.

Additionally, the dissolution of a gas in a liquid is exothermic, meaning that the process releases heat. Therefore, when the temperature is raised, the equilibrium shifts in a way that favors the gas phase over the dissolved phase, further decreasing solubility. This principle applies to many common scenarios, such as why warm soda goes flat more quickly than cold soda, as the warmer liquid allows carbon dioxide gas to escape more rapidly.

Understanding this relationship is essential in fields such as chemistry and environmental science, where the behavior of gases in liquids is crucial for processes like oxygen solubility in water bodies, which can impact aquatic life.