What is Degree of Dissociation?
Degree of dissociation (α) is the fraction of original molecules that dissociate into simpler species. It plays a vital role in chemical equilibrium, acid-base calculations, and ionic conductivity.
📗 1. Basic Formula
- α = 1 → Complete dissociation
- For weak electrolytes, 0 < α < 1
🧪 2. Numerical Example
Dissociated = 1 - 0.42 = 0.58 mol
So, α = 0.58 / 1 = 0.58
📘 3. RD Kit Integration
RDKit is a powerful cheminformatics library used for molecular representation, SMILES parsing, and chemical computations. Learn more at:
📐 4. Useful Formulas
- Ka = Cα² for weak acids
- α = √(Ka / C) derived from Ostwald’s Dilution Law
- Equilibrium expressions use α for pressure, moles, or volume shifts
📊 5. Comparison Table
Compound | Type | Approx. α |
---|---|---|
HCl | Strong Acid | 1 |
CH₃COOH | Weak Acid | ~0.05 |
NH₄OH | Weak Base | ~0.01 |
H₂SO₄ (1st Step) | Strong Acid | 1 |
🧪 6. Real-Life Applications
- Calculating pH of weak acids
- Design of buffer solutions
- Controlling industrial reaction yields
- Electrolytic conductivity & salt hydrolysis
📝 7. Practice Question
📌 8. Concept Map
Initial Moles → Change using α → Equilibrium Moles → Apply Ka/Kp → Calculate α
📗 9. Related Topics
💡 10. Tip for Students
Use ICE (Initial–Change–Equilibrium) tables for better clarity.
🎯 11. You Can Try This Experiment
If you use a weak acid like acetic acid and test conductivity in distilled vs. tap water, you can observe differences due to partial dissociation.
🧠 12. Summary
Degree of dissociation (α) is crucial for solving equilibrium, ionic strength, and acid-base calculations. Knowing how to use α simplifies many numerical questions in physical chemistry.
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