Effect of Electrolytes on Chemical Equilibria

position
position of
of most
most solution
solution
1. The Effect of
equilibria
equilibria depends
depends on
on the
the
Electrolytes on
electrolyte
electrolyte concentration
concentration of
of
Chemical Equilibria
the
the medium
medium

For example:
2. Activity Coefficients

Chemists use a term called activity, a, to

account for the effects of electrolytes on
chemical equilibria.

The
The activity
activity of
of aa species
species is
is aa measure
measure of
of its
its effective
effective concentration
concentration as
as
determined
determined byby colligative
colligative properties
properties such
such as:
as:


 increasing
increasing the
the boiling
boiling point
point or
or

 decreasing
decreasing the
the freezing
freezing point
point of
of water
water

 electrical
electrical conductivity,
conductivity,

 and
and by
by the
the mass-action
mass-action effect
effect
Solving Equilibrium Problems for Complex Systems

Complex equilibria are extremely important in many areas of science

Rivers and lakes are subject to many sources of pollution that may
make the water unsuitable for drinking, swimming, or fishing.

The calculations involved in complex equilibria are the major subject

of this
For example, when we dissolve a sparingly
soluble salt in water, there are three equilibria:

If hydronium ions are added to this system, the second equilibrium is shifted
to the right by the common-ion effect. The resulting decrease in sulfate
concentration causes the first equilibrium to shift to the right as well, which
increases the solubility of the barium sulfate.