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Topic: Why are solids and liquids equal to 1...  (Read 1960 times)

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Offline plasticfood

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Why are solids and liquids equal to 1...
« on: October 25, 2011, 02:38:41 PM »
...in a equilibrium constant expression? i know that their concentrations remain constant, but why is it that it's equal to 1?



Offline juanrga

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Re: Why are solids and liquids equal to 1...
« Reply #1 on: October 30, 2011, 11:50:08 AM »
...in a equilibrium constant expression? i know that their concentrations remain constant, but why is it that it's equal to 1?

I think what you mean equilibrium expressions like (1)

$$ K_S = [X(aq)]  /$$

for

$$ X(s) \rightleftharpoons X(aq) /$$

But $$ K_S /$$ is not generally a true constant. Multiply both sides of (1) by the activity factor

$$ K_S \gamma = a_{X(aq)} /$$

and you obtain the true solubility constant

$$ K = a_{X(aq)} = \frac{a_{X(aq)}}{a_{X(s)}} /$$

the activity of a pure solid is 1 by definition.
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