Define Molar Conductivity
Electrochemistry is quite an important topic in JEE and other competitive engineering exams. Molar Conductivity is a very significant topic under electrochemistry which you need to learn about in order to score well. Molar Conductivity is defined as the Conductivity of the solution of an electrolyte divided by the Molar concentration of the electrolyte, and so gauges the efficiency with which an allotted electrolyte conducts electricity in solution. This is to say that Molar Conductivity is the conducting power of all the ions that are developed by dissolving a mole of electrolyte in a solution.
Molar Conductivity Formula
The below-given expression is used to mathematically denote Molar Conductivity.
Λm = K / C
Where
K = specific Conductivity
C = concentration in mole per liter.
The si unit of Molar Conductivity is S⋅m²⋅mol⁻¹.
Molar Conductance
The Molar conductance is described as the conductance of all ions produced by one mole of an electrolyte present in a fixed volume of the solution.
It is given as:
Molar conductance μ = k ×V
where,
V = volume in (mL) having 1 g mole of the electrolyte. If c is the solution in g mole/litre, then μ = k × 1000/c
Units of Molar conductance: Omega- cm-² mol²
Equivalent conductance = (Molar conductance)/n
Where
n = (Molecular mass) / (Equivalent mass)
Variation of Molar Conductivity with Concentration
It is important to note that Molar Conductivity of both strong and weak electrolytes increases with the depletion in dilution. You must be aware already that the Molar Conductivity is the Conductivity provided by one mole of ions. Even after dilution, we are taking into account the same unit mole of ions. However, the increased dilution causes dissociation of more electrolytes into ions and optimally increasing the number of active ions in the concentration. These active ions set forth more Conductivity.
The visual representation explains that for strong electrolytes, the Molar Conductivity is increasing steadily with the dilution. If EO m is the restricting Molar Conductivity (the Molar Conductivity at 0 concentration), then the standard equation for the strong electrolyte can be delineated using the Kohlrausch’s law as below;
Λm = Eom – A√c
Where,
A = slope of the graph. It typically depends on the kind of the electrolyte at a given temperature for an assigned solvent.
For strong electrolytes, the increase in concentration yields a striking increment in Conductivity. Nevertheless, weak electrolytes carry significantly low values of specific Conductivity at lower concentration and the value moderately shows an increase as the concentration is increased. This is because of an increase in the number of active ions present in the solution due to concentration.
However, for weak electrolytes, the Molar Conductivity strikes at lower concentrations. On the contrary, such electrolytes are contained in lower Molar Conductivity at higher concentrations because of the reduced degree of dissociation.
In an instance of specific Conductivity, it is observed that the concentration of the electrolyte increases with the increase in Conductivity. The specific Conductivity relies upon the number of ions that exists in the unit volume of the solution. On dilution, the dissociation increases, leading to current-containing ions to increase in the solution. Due to the dilution, the number of ions available in a unit volume of the solution decreases. This gives rise to a reduction in Conductivity.
Solved Examples on Molar Conductivity
Problem1: Find out the Molar Conductivity of the KCl solution?
Solution:
Given:
Molarity (M) = 0.60M
Conductivity at 298 K (k) = 0.047 S cm–
Now, Using the Molar Conductivity formula = (1000 × k) / M
= (1000 × 0.047) / 0.60
= 78.33 cm² mol⁻¹
Therefore, Molar Conductivity of the KCl solution is 78.33 cm² mol⁻¹
Problem 2: The Molar conductance measures at infinite dilution of Na+ and Cl- ions are 32.54 × 10⁻² Sm²mol⁻¹ and 67.12 × 10⁻² Sm²mol⁻¹ respectively. Find out the total Molar conductance of NaCl?
Solution:
Calculating the Molar conductance at infinite dilution, given is
λ+Na = 32.54 × 10⁻² Sm²mol⁻¹
λ+Cl = 67.12 × 10⁻² Sm²mol⁻¹
Molar conductance of NaCl = λ+Na + λ+Cl
= 32.54 × 10⁻² + 67.12 × 10⁻²
= 99.66 ×10⁻² Sm²mol⁻¹
Therefore, Molar conductance of NaCl is 99.66 ×10⁻² Sm²mol⁻¹
FAQs on Molar Conductivity
1. What Happens to Molar Conductance Equivalent and Molar Equivalent Conductivity on Dilution?
Understand this by considering an example. Consider taking 1cc of the solution having 1 g eq. of the electrolyte taken in a jar. Now, the conductance of this solution will become the specific Conductivity. Also according to the definition of equivalent Conductivity is the conductance of 1g eq. of electrolyte solvated in V cc of the solution when the space between the electrodes is 1cm and area of the electrodes are so sizeable that the entire solution is held between them (P.S - area may or may not be equal to 1cm² and duly then eq. Conductivity will be the same as specific Conductivity). Therefore, when considering 1cc of the solution having 1 gm equivalent of the electrolyte, the equivalent Conductivity will be equal to its specific Conductivity.
2. Is there any Difference Between Molar Conductance and Molar Conductivity?If yes, What is the Difference Between Molar Conductance and Molar Conductivity?
While Conductance refers to the degree to which the solution conducts electricity, Conductivity, on the other hand, is the conductance per unit volume of the solution. Conductivity can also be regarded as the assemblage of ions per unit volume of solution. While the Molar Conductivity is the conductance of the whole solution containing 1 mole of electrolyte dissolved in it. Further, as per the Ostwald's Dilution Law, higher the dilution, higher the dissociation of the electrolyte in solution. For dilution of an electrolyte solution, as dilution increases, Conductivity decreases. Thus, as dilution increases, Molar Conductivity (conductance of 1 mole of electrolyte in total solution) should INCREASE in compliance with Ostwald's Law.
3. What is Molar conductance?
At the point when one mole of an electrolyte is broken up in a solution, the particles delivered in the arrangement are fit for directing power. Molar conductance is characterized as the directing force of the disintegrated particles created in the arrangement.
When the point where a solution is weakened, it's Molar Conductivity increases. Notwithstanding, the Molar Conductivity of solid electrolytes and feeble electrolytes shows various sorts of conduct when weakened.
In solid electrolytes, on weakening, there is finished separation of particles and the power between the particles diminishes. This assists the particles with moving quicker which prompts an increment in Molar conductance of the solution.
In feeble electrolytes, the particles don't separate totally. They go through fractional ionization and subsequently on weakening, there is a progressive expansion initially. As the solution is more weakened there is a sharp expansion in the Molar Conductivity of the solution.
4. What is specific conductance?
Specific conductance is characterized as the property of a metal which permits particles to move through it and lead power. It is typically the proportionality of Resistance and is addressed by 'k'.
5. Who discovered Molar Conductivity?
Friedrich Kohlrausch in 1875–1879 established that to a high accuracy in dilute solutions, Molar Conductivity can be decomposed into contributions of the individual ions. This is known as Kohlrausch's law of independent ionic migration.[7] For any electrolyte AxBy, the limiting Molar Conductivity is expressed as x times the limiting Molar Conductivity of Ay+ and y times the limiting Molar Conductivity of Bx−.
The limiting Molar Conductivity of a weak electrolyte cannot be determined reliably by extrapolation. Instead it can be expressed as a sum of ionic contributions, which can be evaluated from the limiting Molar conductivities of strong electrolytes containing the same ions.
Electrolytes conduct Energy because of the presence of loose ions contained in it. It is just like the case of metal Conductors, wherein free Electrons favor the conduction of Energy. The electrolytic conduction is defined based on the Arrhenius equation or concept.
We realize that electrolytic solutions can be created from the dissolution of a few salts. The salts now no longer want to be continually ionic in nature. The simplest standards are that the compound should be composed of oppositely charged ions.
Arrhenius theory explains that once a neutral electrolyte is dissolved in water, the electrolyte molecules are broken up into in a different way charged ions. The positively charged one is known as the cation and the negatively charged one is known as an anion. The idea assumes that ions are already there in the electrolyte, but however, bound collectively via means of electrostatic pressure and as a result, they may be neutral. But once dissolved, the ions dissociate from their bound form.
AB → A⁻ + B⁻
However, there may be a recombination of ions additionally taking place. Hence, the real response taking place withinside the electrolytic answer is a reversible response. It is represented below.
AB ⇄ A⁺ + B⁻
The charged particles are capable of flowing freely via the solution. The positive ions or cations are capable of flow toward a negative electrode or cathode to get itself reduced. At an equal time, the negative ions or anions are capable of flowing toward the positive electrode or anode to get itself oxidized. This motion of charged particles known as migration imparts electric-powered conduction.
Eleсtriсity: The term eleсtriс it refers to a form оf Energy оr vаriety оf рhenоmenоn resulting frоm the ассumulаtiоn оf stаtiс сhаrges оr flоw оf сhаrged раrtiсles.
Eleсtriс сhаrge: The eleсtriс сhаrge is the fundаmentаl аnd соnserved рrорerty оf sоme subаtоmiс раrtiсles whiсh determines their eleсtrоmаgnetiс interасtiоns. It exhibits twо stаtes i.e., positive аnd negаtive.
In SI units, the eleсtriс сhаrge is meаsured in Соulоmbs (С).
The smаllest vаlue оf “free” сhаrge knоwn in nаture is the сhаrge оf аn eleсtrоn оr а рrоtоn, whiсh hаs а mаgnitude оf 1.602 x 10-19 Соulоmb
.
The сhаrge оn оne eleсtrоn is: -1.602 x 10-19 С.
Where the charge on a рrоtоn is equаl tо: +1.602 x 10-19 С.
Eleсtriс field: It is аn influenсe рrоduсed by аn eleсtriс charge оn оther сhаrges in its viсinity.
А сhаrged раrtiсle exрerienсes fоrсe when рlасed in аn eleсtriс field. The electric field exerts а fоrсe оn сhаrged раrtiсles, ассelerаting them in the direction of the fоrсe, in either the same or the орроsite direсtiоn of the electric field.
Hence some amount оf wоrk has to be done аgаinst this fоrсe tо bring the сhаrged раrtiсle tо а сertаin роint in аn eleсtriс field.
Eleсtriс роtentiаl: The eleсtriс роtentiаl аt аny роint in аn eleсtriс field is defined аs the Energy required to bring a unit charge frоm аn infinite distаnсe tо thаt роint.
It is usuаlly meаsured in vоlts (V). Vоlt can be fоrmаlly defined аs the rаtiо of Energy in joules to the сhаrge in соulоmbs.
The absolute eleсtriс potential саnnоt be meаsured. Hоwever, the difference in electric potential between two роints саn be meаsured аnd hаs mоre рrасtiсаl usаge.