Final answer:
Henry's law is a principle of chemistry that describes the behavior of gases when they come into contact with a liquid. It states that the concentration of gas in a liquid is directly proportional to the solubility and partial pressure of that gas. In the context of mixed gas diving, Henry's law explains why scuba divers need to ascend slowly after a dive if they are breathing compressed air.
Step-by-step explanation:
Henry's law is a principle of chemistry that describes the behavior of gases when they come into contact with a liquid. It states that the concentration of gas in a liquid is directly proportional to the solubility and partial pressure of that gas. In the context of mixed gas diving, Henry's law explains why scuba divers need to ascend slowly after a dive if they are breathing compressed air. At higher pressures underwater, more nitrogen gas dissolves in the diver's internal fluids. If the diver ascends too quickly, the rapid pressure change causes small bubbles of nitrogen to form throughout the body, leading to a condition known as 'the bends'.