3. Theory of dissociation

It is experimentally established that solutions of certain substances in water may conduct an electric current (for example, solution of table salt in water) while the solution of sugar may not. The first group of substances was named electrolytes, the second one - non-electrolytes.

In order to understand the unique properties of electrolyte solutions, we will look briefly at the theory of Svante Arrhenius (1859-1927). His work forms the basis of the modern theory of ions in aqueous solutions, the solutions in which water is the solvent. Arrhenius considered the ions to be electrically charged. As a whole the solution contains equal numbers of positive and negative charges. He concluded that ions were produced by “ionization” of molecules in aqueous solution.

Water - solvent in aqueous solution - is not inert component. The polarity of water molecules plays an important role in the formation of solutions of ionic compounds in water. Molecule of H₂O is a polar particle called “doublet”:

H⁺ ─ OH^-_{_}

The charged ends of water molecules attract the ions in the ionic compounds and bring them into solution. The energy released when an ion is attracted to a water molecule also affects the heat of solution of the ionic compound in water.

The solution process for ionic compounds. Suppose we drop a few crystals of Sodium Chloride into a beaker of water. At the crystal surface, water molecules come into contact with Na⁺ and Cl^- ions. The positive ends of the water molecules are attracted to Cl^- ions; the negative ends are attracted to Na⁺ ions. The attraction between water molecules and the ions is strong enough to draw the ions away from the crystal surface and into solution, as illustrated in Fig. 15.

Water molecules

Hydrated Sodium ion

Sodium ion

Hydrated chloride ion

Chloride ion

Crystal

Figure 15. Table salt (Sodium Chloride) dissolves in water forming hydrated Sodium and Chloride ions

This solution process with water as the solvent is referred to as hydration. The ions are said to be hydrated. The attraction between ions and water molecules is strong enough that each ion in solution remains surrounded by water molecules.

The separation of ions that occurs when an ionic compound dissolves is called dissociation (means disintegration, decay, decomposition). The equations representing the dissociation of Sodium Chloride in water are:

NaCl (s) Na⁺ (aq) + Cl^- (aq)

where (s) - solid phase;

(aq) - aqueous solution

or in simplified form

NaCl Na⁺ + Cl^-.