Final answer:
When the temperature of the water is lowered, the solubility of oxygen in the water increases due to the decreased option (4) kinetic energy of the gas molecules, which facilitates their interaction with the solvent molecules.
Step-by-step explanation:
The solubility of oxygen in water will change when the water temperature is lowered. According to the principles of chemistry, the solubility of gases in liquids typically increases with a decrease in temperature. This is because decreasing the temperature reduces the kinetic energy of the gas molecules, leading to a greater likelihood of the gas molecules interacting with and being 'trapped' by the solvent molecules.
Thus, when the temperature of water is lowered, the solubility of oxygen in the water will increase, leading to more oxygen being dissolved in the water.
This phenomenon has practical consequences in natural water bodies like rivers, lakes, and streams; higher levels of dissolved oxygen are necessary for the health of the ecosystems, and lower temperatures can help maintain those necessary levels.
In contrast, as the temperature rises, the increased molecular motion can overcome the attractive forces between the gas and solvent molecules, decreasing the solubility and potentially affecting aquatic life adversely.