Calculation of surface tension of salt solutions: effective polarizability of solvated ions

Abstract

The Onsager–Samaras version of Wagner's theory of surface tension of solutions of 1:1 salts has been modified to include ion-induced dipole terms in the image potential. Effective solvated ionic polarizabilities are used, which are large and negative owing to local dielectric saturation around the ions. The modified theory agrees with the order of magnitude of the variation among various alkali halides (e.g., Δσ for 0.1 molar aqueous KI is about 70% of the corresponding value for KCl). Polarizabilities were estimated from Hasted's dielectric decrements. Keywords: surface tension, salt solutions, symmetric electrolytes, effective polarizability, theory.