Partial Dissociation and Hydration Quantitatively Explain the Properties of Aqueous Electrolyte Solutions and hence Empirical Activity Concepts are Unnecessary

Abstract

The author shows that Arrhenius's theory of partial electrolytic dissociation was immaturely displaced about eight decades ago by the empirical concept of ionic activities and the assumption of complete dissociation of electrolytes at all concentrations. The latter brought the theory of electrolytes over the next decades into a complicated state without any physical significance. Therefore, the author started a systematic investigation of the available data and could completely restore the original theory of partial dissociation. Now solution properties can be easily understood and quantitatively explained in terms of absolute concentrations and volumes of ions and ion pairs and hydration.