EQUIVALENT WEIGHT Meaning and
Definition
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Equivalent weight, also known as gram equivalent weight, is a term used in chemistry to define the weight of a substance that can either gain or lose one equivalent of a chemical element or a group of elements during a chemical reaction. It is a crucial concept in stoichiometry, which involves the quantitative relationship between reactants and products in a chemical equation.
The equivalent weight of a substance is determined by dividing its molar mass by the number of equivalents it can either gain or lose. An equivalent is a unit that takes into consideration the number of atoms, ions, or molecules involved in a reaction. It is specific to a particular reaction and can vary depending on the reaction stoichiometry.
For example, if we consider a redox reaction where one mole of a substance gains or loses one mole of electrons, then the equivalent weight would be equal to its molar mass. However, in other reactions, the equivalents might be based on the number of hydrogen ions or hydroxide ions involved.
The concept of equivalent weight is particularly useful in determining the stoichiometry of a reaction, as it allows researchers to calculate the amounts of reactants needed to form a desired product or the amount of product that can be obtained from a given amount of reactant. It also aids in determining the equivalent concentration of a substance and its reactivity in various chemical reactions.
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A practical medical dictionary. By Stedman, Thomas Lathrop. Published 1920.
Common Misspellings for EQUIVALENT WEIGHT
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Etymology of EQUIVALENT WEIGHT
The word "equivalent" originated from the Latin word "aequivalentia", which breaks down to "aequi" meaning equal, and "valere" meaning to be strong or powerful. The word "weight" comes from the Old English word "gewiht", which ultimately traces back to the Proto-Germanic word "gewihtiz". The term "equivalent weight" is used in chemistry to refer to the mass of a substance (in grams) that combines with or replaces one mole of hydrogen or another element in a chemical reaction. The etymology of "equivalent weight" is derived from combining these two words to describe the mass of a substance that has the same chemical reaction equivalence as one mole of a reference substance.
Similar spelling words for EQUIVALENT WEIGHT
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