Molality, Activity, Activity Coefficients, Ionic Strength and the Debye-Hckel Law

Molality = m = moles of solute/kg of solvent

a =m a- = - m- a+ = + m+ a = m

For an ionic compound M + X that dissociates 100% M + X (v + ) M z+ + (v )X z

v+ represents the number of positive ions of charge z+

v represents the number of negative ions of charge z
and v represents the total number of ions: v = v + + v

The symbol refers to a mean ionic variable and is defined in terms of the number of ions. Thus, the
mean ionic activity coefficient is defined as = ( ++ )1/ v and consequently
mean ionic molality => m = (m+ + m )1 / v and mean ionic activity => a = (a+ + a )1/ v

The ionic strength of a solution (I) depends on the molal concentration of the ions and the charges on
1
those ions: I = m z2
2 i i i

The Debye-Hckel Law is most often presented in two formats: the Debye-Hckel Limiting Law that is
generally good for concentrations smaller than 10-2 m and the Extended Debye-Hckel Law which is
reasonable up to about 0.10 m.

Debye-Hckel Limiting Law ln = z+ z I 1/ 2 ,where = 1.171 for aqueous solutions at 25 C

z+ z I 1/ 2
Extended Debye-Hckel Law ln = , where = 1.00 for aqueous solutions at 25 C
1 + I1 / 2

NOTE THESE ARE NOT THE SAME AS THE EQUATIONS IN YOUR TEXT!