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Chapter 9 Notes
Chapter 9
Electrolyte Effects: Activity or
Concentration
Type
Electrolyte
Example
Ionic Strength*
1:1
NaCl
1:2
Ba(NO3)2,
Na2SO4
3c
1:3
Al(NO3)3,
Na3PO4
6c
2:2
MgSO4
4c
The electrolyte effect results from the electrostatic attractive and repulsive forces
that exist between the ions of an electrolyte and the ions involved in an
equilibrium. These forces cause each ion from the dissociated reactant to be
surrounded by a sheath of solution that contains a slight excess of electrolyte
ions of opposite charge. These charged atmospheres lessen the charges on
the ions in equilibrium, the Ba2+ and SO42- in the figure, thus decreasing
their overall attraction to each other and increasing solubility.
Equilibrium
calculations with
activities yield
values that are
better in agreement
with experimental
results than those
obtained with molar
concentrations.