Degree of Dissociation Formula:
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Definition: The degree of dissociation (α) is the fraction of original solute molecules that have dissociated in a solution.
Purpose: This calculator determines the degree of dissociation for one acid when you know the degree of dissociation of another acid and their dissociation constants.
The calculator uses the formula:
Where:
Explanation: The formula relates the degrees of dissociation of two acids through the square root of the ratio of their dissociation constants.
Details: Knowing the degree of dissociation helps predict acid strength, pH of solutions, and equilibrium concentrations in chemical reactions.
Tips: Enter the known degree of dissociation (0-1), and both dissociation constants (must be positive). The result will be a value between 0 and 1.
Q1: What range is valid for degree of dissociation?
A: The degree of dissociation ranges from 0 (no dissociation) to 1 (complete dissociation).
Q2: How do I find dissociation constants?
A: Dissociation constants (Kₐ) are typically found in chemistry reference tables or determined experimentally.
Q3: Why does the formula use a square root?
A: The square root comes from the relationship between dissociation constants and concentrations in the equilibrium expression.
Q4: Can I use this for bases?
A: Yes, but you would need to use base dissociation constants (K_b) instead of acid dissociation constants.
Q5: What if my result is greater than 1?
A: The calculator caps results at 1, as degrees of dissociation cannot exceed 1. If you get 1, check your input values.