What does Henry's Law describe regarding gases in solutions?

Henry's Law states that at a constant temperature, the amount of gas that dissolves in a liquid is directly proportional to the pressure of that gas above the liquid. This principle is crucial in various fields, including chemistry, environmental science, and medicine, as it explains how gases interact with liquids in different conditions.

According to this law, when the pressure of a gas above the solution increases, more gas molecules enter the solution until a new equilibrium is established. This relationship helps explain phenomena such as the carbonation of beverages or the behavior of gases in blood during respiration.

Understanding that the amount of gas dissolved is proportional to the gas pressure is vital for applications in both physiological contexts, such as understanding how oxygen and carbon dioxide are transported in the blood, and practical situations like maintaining the correct pressures in scuba diving to prevent decompression sickness.