1. What is Percent Dissociation?

Definition: Percent dissociation measures what percentage of a substance has dissociated (broken apart) into ions in solution.

Purpose: It helps chemists understand the extent of dissociation of acids, bases, or salts in solution, which is crucial for pH calculations and equilibrium studies.

2. How Does the Calculator Work?

The calculator uses the formula:

Where:

• \( \%D \) — Percent dissociation (%)
• \( \alpha \) — Degree of dissociation (dimensionless, between 0 and 1)

Explanation: The degree of dissociation (α) is simply multiplied by 100 to convert it to a percentage.

3. Importance of Percent Dissociation

Details: Knowing the percent dissociation helps determine acid/base strength, predict solution conductivity, and calculate equilibrium concentrations.

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Enter the degree of dissociation (α) as a value between 0 (no dissociation) and 1 (complete dissociation).

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: What does α = 0.5 mean?
A: It means 50% of the substance has dissociated (α × 100 = 50%).

Q2: How is degree of dissociation determined experimentally?
A: Through conductivity measurements, pH measurements, or spectroscopic methods.

Q3: What's a typical α value for strong acids?
A: Strong acids typically have α ≈ 1 (100% dissociation) in dilute solutions.

Q4: Can percent dissociation exceed 100%?
A: No, the maximum theoretical value is 100% (complete dissociation).

Q5: How does temperature affect dissociation?
A: Dissociation is often temperature-dependent, typically increasing with temperature for weak electrolytes.