Degree of Dissociation Formula:
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Definition: The degree of dissociation (α) measures the fraction of molecules that dissociate into ions or smaller molecules at equilibrium.
Purpose: This calculator determines the degree of dissociation for reactions where the number of moles changes from 1 to 2 (n=2).
The calculator uses the formula:
Where:
Explanation: The formula compares the vapour density before and after dissociation to determine what fraction of molecules have dissociated.
Details: Understanding dissociation is crucial for chemical equilibrium studies, reaction kinetics, and predicting reaction yields.
Tips: Enter the initial vapour density (D) and equilibrium vapour density (d). Both values must be > 0.
Q1: What does a degree of dissociation of 1 mean?
A: A value of 1 means 100% dissociation - all molecules have broken down into smaller components.
Q2: How does temperature affect the degree of dissociation?
A: Generally, dissociation increases with temperature as more molecules gain sufficient energy to break bonds.
Q3: Why is this specific to n=2?
A: The formula assumes the number of moles doubles during dissociation (1 → 2). Different formulas apply for other mole changes.
Q4: What are typical values for vapour densities?
A: Vapour densities depend on the specific substance but are typically in the range of 1-200 for common chemicals.
Q5: Can the degree of dissociation exceed 1?
A: No, it's a fraction between 0 (no dissociation) and 1 (complete dissociation).