The Arrhenius Theory of Dissociation is a scientific concept that explains the breakdown of compounds into ions in a solution. The correct spelling of this term is /ɑːˈreɪniəs ˈθɪəri əv dɪˌsəʊsiˈeɪʃən/. The first syllable, "ar," is pronounced with the vowel sound /ɑː/ as in "car." The second syllable, "rhe," is pronounced with the vowel sound /e/ as in "bed." The third syllable, "nius," is pronounced with the consonant sound /niəs/ as in "genius." The word "dissociation" is pronounced /dɪˌsəʊsiˈeɪʃən/ with stress on the second syllable.
The Arrhenius theory of dissociation refers to a concept in chemistry that was proposed by the Swedish scientist Svante Arrhenius in 1884. The theory aims to explain how certain substances, when dissolved in water, break apart or dissociate into ions.
According to the Arrhenius theory, a substance that can dissociate into ions in a water solution is classified as an electrolyte. This means that when such a substance is dissolved, it forms freely moving positively and negatively charged ions. An example of this is table salt (NaCl), which dissociates into sodium ions (Na+) and chloride ions (Cl-) when dissolved in water.
The theory further suggests that the extent of dissociation of an electrolyte depends on the concentration of the solution and temperature. Higher concentrations and elevated temperatures generally encourage greater dissociation.
Arrhenius proposed that the ability of a substance to dissociate depends on the presence of water molecules, which surround and stabilize the ions. In contrast, non-electrolytes, such as sugar, do not dissociate in water because they do not form charged particles.
Overall, the Arrhenius theory of dissociation provides an explanation for the behavior of many electrolytes in aqueous solutions, revealing their ability to conduct electricity due to the presence of freely moving ions. It forms the basis of our understanding of electrolytic solutions and has been essential in the development of various fields, including electrochemistry and chemical kinetics.