Dilution law refers to a principle in chemistry that states that the concentration of a solute in a solution is inversely proportional to the volume of the solvent it is dissolved in. This means that as more solvent is added to a solution, the concentration of the solute decreases. The dilution law is often expressed as the equation C1V1 = C2V2, where C1 and V1 are the initial concentration and volume of the solution, and C2 and V2 are the final concentration and volume of the solution after dilution.
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Google Gemini AI
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Dilution Law (Ostwald's Dilution Law)
The dilution law, also known as Ostwald's dilution law, is an empirical equation that describes the decrease in the dissociation of a weak electrolyte as its solution is diluted.
Formula:
``` K_a = K_ax^2 ```
Where:
- K_a is the ionization constant of the weak electrolyte in the diluted solution - K_ax is the ionization constant of the weak electrolyte in the concentrated solution - x is the dilution factor, which is equal to the volume of the diluted solution divided by the volume of the concentrated solution
Explanation:
When a weak electrolyte is diluted, the concentration of its ions decreases. As a result, the equilibrium shifts towards the formation of the undissociated electrolyte, reducing the degree of dissociation. The ionization constant K_a decreases with increasing dilution, as the fraction of ions in the solution decreases.
The dilution law allows us to calculate the ionization constant of a weak electrolyte in a diluted solution, given its ionization constant in a concentrated solution and the dilution factor.