Equivalence factor or n factor is a concept in chemistry that is used to express the relative amount of a substance that participates in a chemical reaction. It is defined as the number of moles of a substance that reacts with or is equivalent to 1 mole of another substance.
The equivalence factor or n factor is directly related to the concept of equivalent weight. Equivalent weight is the mass of a substance that reacts with or is equivalent to 1 mole of another substance. The equivalence factor or n factor is the ratio of the equivalent weight of a substance to the molar mass of that substance.
The equivalence factor or n factor of a substance is determined by the number of reactive species or ions present in a chemical reaction. For example, a monoprotic acid will have an equivalence factor or n factor of 1, while a diprotic acid will have an equivalence factor or n factor of 2.
The equivalence factor or n factor is crucial in stoichiometric calculations as it helps to determine the amount of substances needed for a chemical reaction. It is used to convert between different units, such as moles and mass, and to balance chemical equations.
In titration experiments, the equivalence factor or n factor is used to calculate the concentration of a substance being titrated. It is also used to determine the volume of a titrant needed to reach the equivalence point, where the moles of the titrant are equal to the moles of the substance being titrated.