Here are the essential concepts you must grasp in order to answer the question correctly.
Osmolarity
Osmolarity is a measure of the total concentration of solute particles in a solution. It is expressed in osmoles per liter (osmol/L) and accounts for all particles that contribute to the solution's osmotic pressure. For ionic compounds, osmolarity is calculated by considering the number of ions produced when the compound dissociates in solution.
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Ionic Dissociation
Ionic dissociation refers to the process by which an ionic compound separates into its constituent ions when dissolved in a solvent, typically water. For example, potassium bromide (KBr) dissociates into K⁺ and Br⁻ ions. Understanding how many ions a compound produces upon dissociation is crucial for calculating its osmolarity.
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Non-Electrolytes vs. Electrolytes
Non-electrolytes are substances that do not dissociate into ions in solution, such as glucose, while electrolytes do dissociate, like KBr and K₂SO₄. This distinction is important for osmolarity calculations, as non-electrolytes contribute only their molecular concentration, whereas electrolytes contribute based on the total number of ions formed from their dissociation.
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Electrolytes (Simplified) Example 3