[orgo814]

Question: According to the Debye-Huckel equation, dissolving a small amount of ethanol in water should ____ the solubility of silver chloride in that solution

I am trying to figure out the relationship between debye huckel equation and solubility. Debye huckel equation is calculating the mean activity coefficient = -abs value(Z+Z-) x A x I^1/2. I'm assuming the ionic activity has something to do with it but if someone could point me in the right direction that would be great.

[Borek]

One of the coefficients in the Debye-Hückel equation is a function of ε - permittivity. Perhaps that's the link.

[orgo814]

Ionic activity?

[Borek]

Ionic activity?

Ionic activity what?

Can you write Debye-Hückel formula?

[orgo814]

It's written in my question. That's the Debye huckel equation I was taught

[Borek]

Were you told anything about A?

[orgo814]

Just told its a constant for our level of pchem... 0.509

[Borek]

Then I have no idea what the question is about.

It is not "just a constant" - while we typically use just a ready value, it is a function of several parameters (se http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Debye–Hückel_equation). Between these - permittivity of the solvent. This will change with ethanol addition.

[orgo814]

Well ionic activity incorporates the molality (or any concentration). So wouldn't dissolving a small amount of ethanol alter that possibly, affecting the ionic activity, and doing something to the activity coefficients affecting solubility product?

[Borek]

How is it different from adding some water (instead of ethanol)?