The recent eruption of Mount Etna (July 2001) offered the opportunity to analyze magma‐derived volatiles emitted during pre‐ and syn‐eruptive phases, and to verify whether their composition is affected by changes in volcanic dynamics. This paper presents the results of analyses of F, Cl and S in the volcanic plume collected by filter‐packs, and interprets variations in the composition based on contrasting solubility in magmas. A Rayleigh‐type degassing mechanism was used to fit the acquired data and to estimate Henry's solubility constant ratios in Etnean basalt. This model provided insights into the dynamics of the volcano. Abundances of sulfur and halogens in eruptive plumes may help predict the temporal evolution of an ongoing effusive eruption.