# Determining number of dissociated moles from concentration?

Tags:
1. Jul 29, 2015

### H Smith 94

Is there a formula to theoretically determine the number of moles of each ion present when a particular concentration of salt is dissociated in water?

I remember from A-level (high school) chemistry that concepts such as the dissociation constant exist but I'm struggling to apply them to concentration.

I am currently looking at the molar conductivity.

Last edited: Jul 29, 2015
2. Jul 29, 2015

### Staff: Mentor

Single formula? No. Theory that allows calculation of equilibrium concentrations? Yes.

Or do you mean just a simple case with something that fully dissociates? Then it is not even a formula, it just a direct application of the concentration definition, c=n/V.

3. Jul 29, 2015

### H Smith 94

Hi Borek, thank you for your quick response!

That sounds interesting and potentially useful. I'll look it up. Could you shed any light on anything you think may be useful?

So could I assume that NaCl dissociates perfectly in water, resulting in equal concentrations of Na+ and Cl-? Because that would make everything so much nicer.

4. Jul 29, 2015

### Staff: Mentor

Check these pages:

http://www.chembuddy.com/?left=pH-calculation&right=general-pH-calculation

http://www.chembuddy.com/?left=pH-calculation&right=toc

While this is about pH calculation, the ideas behind are the same no matter what ions/species are involved.

For NaCl (and HS level) you can make such an assumption. At the undergraduate level you will be told it is not that simple, at the graduate level you will find details are a nightmare.

5. Jul 30, 2015

6. Aug 5, 2015

### H Smith 94

Hi everyone, thank you for your help so far!

Does anyone know how the electrical conductivity $\sigma$ (conversely, resistivity $\rho$) depends on salinity $S$ -- or more specifically, on the movement of dissolved ions in an electric field? I know they're in some way proportional but cannot find how!

7. Aug 5, 2015