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Chemistry · Glossary

What is Conductivity, molar ionic conductivity?

Also known as: conductivity · molar ionic conductivity

Definition 46.6 School Chemistry — Grades 1 to 12 · Chapter 46 — Titrations by pH and Conductivity

The conductivity σ\sigma of a solution measures how well it conducts electricity; it is read on a conductimeter in mS/cm\mathrm{mS}/\mathrm{cm} (or S/m\mathrm{S}/\mathrm{m}). Each ion ii contributes to it in proportion to its concentration, with a coefficient λi\lambda_i, its molar ionic conductivity.

Examples

Example 46.9 (Reading the two lines)

Before equivalence each OHX−\ce{OH-} added removes an HX3OX+\ce{H3O+} (λ=349.8\lambda = 349.8) and brings in a NaX+\ce{Na+} (λ=50.3\lambda = 50.3): the conductivity falls steeply. After equivalence, NaX+\ce{Na+} and OHX−\ce{OH-} (λ=198.3\lambda = 198.3) simply accumulate: it rises. The two lines meet at VE=10.0 mLV_E = 10.0\,\mathrm{mL}, so the acid was 0.100×10.0/100=0.0100 mol/L0.100 \times 10.0 / 100 = 0.0100\,\mathrm{mol}/\mathrm{L}.

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