Activity and Activity Coefficient

• In a solution, diferent charged ions (cations and

anions) have electrostatic interaction. This
interaction in the neutral solutions do not have
between inons.
• When ions in a solution have high
concentrations, cations tend to be surrounded by
nearby anions and anions tend to be surrounded
by nearby cations. This effect is significant at ion
concentrations of 0.01 M and greater.
Activity and Activity Coefficient
• When ions in a solution have high concentrations, cations tend to be
surrounded by nearby anions and anions tend to be surrounded by
nearby cations. This effect is significant at ion concentrations of 0.01
M and greater.
Activity and Activity Coefficient

The charge concentration of a solution is describe

by the ionic strength, which is calculated from the
following expression:

where Zi denotes the charge on an ion.

Ci is related to the formal concentration of each
ion.
Activity and Activity Coefficient
 
Activity and Activity Coefficient

Based on these activity coefficients, the

equilibrium constants of ideal solutions can be
used to determine equilibria in non-ideal
solutions. Activity coefficients are unitless
numbers that are computed from the Debye-
Hückel equation:
Activity and Activity Coefficient
• Activity coefficients can be computed from the
Debye-Hückel equation:

 
Activity and Activity Coefficient
Effective hydrated diameters of ions in aqueous solution (25 oC).

Cations Anions
Rb+, Cs+, NH4+, Tl+, Ag+ 0.25

K+ Cl-, Br-, I-, NO3-, HCOO- 0.3

OH-, F-, HS-, ClO4-, MnO4- 0.35

Na+ HCO3-, H2PO4-, HSO3-, CH3COO- 0.4-0.45

Hg22+ HPO42-, SO42-, CrO42- 0.40

Pb2+ CO32-, SO32- 0.45

Sr2+, Ba2+, Cd2+, Hg2+ S2- 0.5

Li+, Ca2+, Cu2+, Zn2+

Phthalate2-, C6H5COO- 0.6
Sn , Mn , Fe , Ni , Co
2+ 2+ 2+ 2+ 2+

Mg2+, Be2+ 0.8

H+, Al3+, Cr3+, Fe3+, La3+ 0.9