Ostwald Dilution Law
Ostwald Dilution Law - Related Videos
01:25
Ostwald’s Dilution Law
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2026
Consider a binary electrolyte AB with a concentration ‘c’ that reversibly dissociates into its constituent ions. The degree of this dissociation is represented by ⍺. This means that the equilibrium concentration of each ionic species can be expressed as ⍺c. As well as this, the fraction of the electrolyte that remains undissociated at equilibrium is given by (1−⍺). The corresponding equilibrium concentration for this undissociated portion is then calculated as (1−⍺)c. For such solutions,...
02:59
Solution Concentration and Dilution
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2020
The relative amount of a given solution component is known as its concentration. Often, though not always, a solution contains one component with a concentration that is significantly greater than that of all other components. This component is called the solvent and may be viewed as the medium in which the other components are dispersed or dissolved. Solutions in which water is the solvent are, of course, very common on our planet. A solution in which water is the solvent is called an aqueous...
01:24
Dilution: Concept
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2026
Dilution in finance refers to the reduction in the ownership percentage of existing shareholders when a company issues additional shares. While dilution is often seen as a negative factor due to its impact on earnings per share (EPS) and voting power, it is sometimes necessary for a company's growth and sustainability.One primary reason for dilution is capital raising. Companies issue new shares to generate funds for expansion, research, acquisitions, or debt repayment. This allows businesses...
01:17
Types of Dilution: Value
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2026
Value dilution occurs when a company's per-share value decreases due to the issuance of additional shares without a corresponding increase in the company’s profits, assets, or market value. This often affects existing shareholders by reducing their share of the company’s earnings and ownership.The leading causes of value dilution include raising capital through new stock issuance, granting stock options to employees, and converting convertible securities into shares. While these activities may...
02:53
Beer's Law - Concepts
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2020
Absorbance and Fluorescence When light hits a substance, it is either absorbed, transmitted, or reflected. Typically, a substance interacts with a range of wavelengths of light, each one interacting with the molecules or atoms differently. A substance may absorb a specific range of wavelengths, reflect another range of wavelengths, and transmit the other wavelengths of light. When a molecule absorbs light, the energy is used in four different ways: (1) translation, which causes the molecule to...
FAQs
Dilution lowers the concentration of the undissociated electrolyte, so the equilibrium can shift toward the ionic species. Because the dissociation constant remains fixed at a given temperature, the value of α must increase as C decreases in Ka = Cα²/(1 − α). This relationship explains why a more dilute solution contains a greater ionized fraction.
The approximation assumes that ionization is small, making α much less than one. Under that condition, the term 1 − α is treated as approximately one, simplifying Ka = Cα²/(1 − α) to Ka ≈ Cα². It provides a convenient estimate of the degree of ionization when the weak electrolyte remains only slightly dissociated.
No. At a fixed temperature, dilution changes the concentration and degree of dissociation, but not Ka. The law therefore describes a new balance between C and α while preserving the same dissociation constant. This distinction separates a change in the composition of the solution from a change in the equilibrium constant itself.
To estimate α, use the electrolyte concentration C together with the dissociation constant Ka in the exact relation Ka = Cα²/(1 − α). If ionization is small, the simpler expression α ≈ √(Ka/C) can be used instead. Comparing the two approaches indicates whether the small-ionization approximation is suitable for the stated concentration.
Conductivity measurements provide experimental information about ionization in a solution. When measurements are made for a weak electrolyte at a known concentration, the resulting ionization information can be related to C and α in the law. This allows researchers to determine a dissociation constant or evaluate the degree of ionization rather than relying only on a theoretical estimate.
Weak acids and bases do not ionize completely, so their behavior can be described through the balance between concentration, degree of dissociation, and Ka. Applying the relationship helps quantify that balance and illustrates how equilibrium responds to dilution. In chemistry, it therefore supports calculations of dissociation constants and ionization for these weak electrolytes.