Which factor has the greatest effect on the solubility of oxygen in water?

The factor that has the greatest effect on the solubility of oxygen in water is temperature. As the temperature of water increases, the solubility of oxygen decreases. This is due to the fact that warmer water molecules have more kinetic energy, which causes them to move more rapidly and escape the surface, reducing the amount of oxygen that can remain dissolved in the water.

Understanding temperature’s impact on oxygen solubility is crucial in water treatment and aquatic systems because it influences fish and aquatic life that depend on dissolved oxygen for survival. Cooler waters can hold more oxygen, which is vital during warmer months when aquatic life is more active and in greater need of oxygen.

Other factors, while they do affect oxygen solubility, do not have as significant an impact as temperature. For example, alkalinity can influence the chemical balance of water and its interaction with oxygen, but it is not as directly correlated with solubility levels as temperature is. Similarly, air pressure does have some effect on the amount of gas that can dissolve in liquid, but temperature remains the more dominant factor in typical environmental conditions. Contaminant levels can impact water quality and the health of aquatic organisms, but they do not significantly alter the fundamental solubility limits of oxygen in