Essay # 1966 Solubility and Ionic Strength

Quantifying ionic strength

The ionic strength, I, of a solution is a function of the concentration of all ions present in that solution.

where ci is the molar concentration of ion i (moldm-3), zi is the charge number of that ion, and the sum is taken over all ions in the solution. For a 1:1 electrolyte such as sodium chloride, the ionic strength is equal to the concentration, but for MgSO4 the ionic strength is four times higher. Generally multivalent ions contribute strongly to the ionic strength. For example the ionic strength of a mixed 0.050 mol dm-3 in Na2SO4 and 0.020 mol dm-3 in NaCl solution is: I = 1/2((2 (+1)2 0.050) + (+1)2 0.020 + (2)2 0.050 + (1)2 0.020) = 0.17 moldm-3 Because in non-ideal solutions volumes are no longer strictly additive it is often preferable to work with molality (mol/kg{H2O}) rather than molarity (mol/L). In that case, ionic strength is defined as:

[edit]Importance The ionic strength plays a central role in the DebyeHckel theory that describes the strong deviations from ideality typically encountered in ionic solutions. It is also important for the theory of double layer and related electrokinetic phenomena and electroacoustic phenomena in colloids and other heterogeneous systems. That is, the Debye length, which is the inverse of the Debye parameter (), is inversely proportional to the square root of the ionic strength. Debye length is characteristic of the Double layer thickness. Increasing the concentration orvalence of the counterions compresses the double layer and increases the electrical potential gradient. Media of high ionic strength are used in stability constant determination in order to minimize changes, during a titration, in the activity quotient of solutes at lower concentrations. Natural waters such as seawater have a non-zero ionic strength due to the presence of dissolved salts which significantly affects their properties.

Ionic Strength

Ionic strength is a characteristic of an electrolyte solution (a liquid with positive and negatively charged ions dissolved in it). It is typically expressed as the average electrostatic interactions among an electrolyte's ions. An electrolyte's ionic strength is half of the total obtained by multiplying the molality (the amount of substance per unit mass of solvent) of each ion by its valencesquared. Ionic strength is closely related to theconcentration of electrolytes and indicates how effectively the charge on a particular ion is shielded or stabilized by other ions (the so-called ionic atmosphere) in an electrolyte. The main difference between ionic strength and electrolyte concentration is that the former is higher if some of the ions are more highly charged. For instance, a solution of fully dissociated (broken down) magnesium sulfate (Mg+2 SO4-2) has 4 times higher ionic strength than a solution of sodium chloride (Na +Cl -) of the same concentration. Another difference between the two is that ionic strength reflects the concentration of free ions, and not just of how much salt was added to a solution. Sometimes a salt may be dissolved but the respective ions still bound together pairwise, resembling uncharged molecules in solution. In this case the ionic strength is much lower than the salt concentration. Ionic strength is an important factor in biochemical reactions and plays an essential role in the function of all living things. In order to survive, every organism must undergo a continuous series ofchemical reactions that govern everything from metabolism to respiration. Ionic strength is a key factor in these reactions because it affects the rates at which ions react with each other and, thus, the extent to which the reaction occurs. Enzymes, protein molecules that catalyze and regulate reactions important to life, can also be extremely sensitive to ionic strength and may become insoluble or inactive if the organism's ionic strength is too high or too low, much in the same way that they are extremely sensitive to temperature. Take for example, the case of a person running. When he or she begins to perspire they will lose moisture as well electrolytes, or ions. This loss of electrolytes is a practical example of how ionic strength works. If the runner does not replace those lost electrolytes, he or she will become thirsty, sluggish, and overheated. In chemical terms, the ionic strength of the runner's remaining electrolytes would be very high. Because the essentialchemical reactions in the runner's body are affected by ionic strength, just as they are by temperature, for instance, thebalance of chemical reactions of life would be disrupted and the runner would get sick. Ionic strength is one of the basic characteristics of an organism's chemical makeup that determines whether that organism can exist in a state of homeostatis, or internal stability. In higher animals, the kidneys regulate the body's ionic strength by maintaining electrolyte and water balances.

A more specific example of ionic strength's importance in thechemistry of life can be found in the substance acetylcholine, a positively charged ion that organisms release at the ends of certain neurons. Acetylcholine's jobs are to serve as a bridge between neurons, passing along nerve impulses from one to the next, and to start muscular contractions. Ionic strength determines the rate at which acetylcholine reacts with other chemicals in an organism, so if the ionic strength of the organism's electrolytes was too high, the acetylcholine would react at a rate too slow or too fast, or may bind too strongly or too weakly to its receptor for theorganism to function normally. Ionic strength is a also a useful parameter in the laboratory. If a researcher knows the ionic strength of an electrolyte, it can tell him or her a great deal about the dynamics of specific chemical reactions. In this respect, a known ionic strength value can be used as an experiment's control as a way to explore an unknown reaction. Scientists can also change an electrolyte's ionic strength to alter the outcome of a reaction in a measured, deliberate way. High ionic strength chloride solutions are useful in many geological, environmental and industrial processes. For example, oil companies are researching the use of high ionic strength solutions in reducing the costs of controlling scale formation; the metallurgical industry uses them to improve the efficiency ofcopper extraction from chalcopyrite ores, and the nuclear waste industry uses them to understand the behavior of radionuclides in underground storage deposits where there are salt deposits. Because scientists do yet not fully understand the theoretical behavior of high ionic strength chloride solutions systems, most applications are based on observed models. But in the late 1990s,researches began focusing more powerful computers on the problem and have developed successful use of molecular dynamics in studying complex aqueous solutions. Such studies in molecular dynamics techniques may provide more practical applications of high ionic strength chloride solutions across a variety of industries.

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