An equation is derived for an approximate calculation of the solubility of gases in liquids and of their heat of dissolution using the energy parameters (force cosntants) of the Lennard-Jones potential data of pure gases and solvents, but without using empirical coefficients determined from the properties of binary systems. The equation describes some trends including the linear dependence of the gas solubility logarithm and the dissolution heat on the square root of the force constant of the Lennard-Jones potential of the gas, the extremal dependence (via the maximum) of the gas solubility on the same constant of the solvent, and the possibility and condition of the appearance of a minimum in the gas solubility with variations in temperature. The theoretical results are compared with experimental data. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science B.V.