Divers who go to great depths in the ocean
experience large differences in pressure between the surface and their final destinations below the surface. At times, they have to avoid quick changes in pressure because of the effects on the solubility of nitrogen in their blood. If the solubility decreases quickly, then gas bubbles can form in the person's blood, causing a dangerous condition called "the bends."
In one or two sentences, state whether you would expect the condition to be a greater hazard for divers as they dive down or as they return to the surface. Then, explain your prediction in terms of the solubility of gases in liquids at different pressures.
1 answer
I would expect the condition to be a greater hazard for divers as they return to the surface because as the pressure decreases, the solubility of nitrogen in their blood decreases, increasing the risk of gas bubble formation. This is due to Henry's Law, which states that the solubility of a gas in a liquid is directly proportional to the pressure of the gas above the liquid. As the pressure decreases during ascent, the solubility of nitrogen decreases, leading to the potential formation of gas bubbles.