CHEM 142 Lecture Notes - Lecture 11: Ionic Compound, Molar Concentration
Document Summary
Water molecules are polar and it allows water to easily dissolve compounds. The positive ends of the molecule are attracted to the negatively charged anions and vice versa. This is called hydration, and it pulls apart the compound. When ionic compounds dissolve in water, they break up into individual cations and anions. Solubility of a substance depends on the relative affinities of the ions for each other and the affinities of the ions for water molecules. A solution is a mixture of a solute and a solvent. In making an aqueous solution involving an ionic compound, the interaction of charged species in the compound with the electron distribution in water results in salvation. The ions are surrounded by salvation shell or hydration shell. One useful property for characterizing a solution is its ability to conduct electricity. Strong electrolytes are very efficient at conducting electricity. Weak electrolytes only conduct a small amount.
