Write the equation relating osmotic pressure to the concentration of a solution. Define all the terms and give their units.

Short Answer

Expert verified
The equation relating osmotic pressure \(\Pi\) to the concentration of a solution is given by the van't Hoff equation, \(\Pi = iCRT\), where \(i\) is the van't Hoff factor, \(C\) is the molar concentration (mol/L), \(R\) is the gas constant (8.314 J/(mol.K)), and \(T\) is the absolute temperature (K). The osmotic pressure (\(\Pi\)) is often measured in Pascals (Pa).

Step by step solution

01

Writing the General Equation

Start by writing the basic van't Hoff equation relating the osmotic pressure to the concentration of a solution: \[ \Pi = iCRT \]
02

Defining the Terms

Define each of the terms:\n\n1. \(\Pi\): This is the osmotic pressure of the solution.\n\n2. \(i\): This is the van't Hoff factor. This factor is the number of particles a solute contributes to the solution. For example, in an ideal solution, glucose (\(i = 1\)) and sodium chloride (\(i = 2\)) since it dissociates into Na and Cl ions.\n\n3. \(C\): This is the molar concentration of the solute in the solution.\n\n4. \(R\): This is the universal gas constant. Its value is 8.314 J/(mol.K) in SI units.\n\n5. \(T\): This is the absolute temperature in Kelvin (K).
03

Providing the Units

Give the units for each term:\n\n1. \(\Pi\): The osmotic pressure is usually measured in Pascals (Pa), but in biological and medical situations, it is often given in atmospheres (atm) or millimeters of Mercury (mmHg).\n\n2. \(i\): The van't Hoff factor is a dimensionless quantity, so it has no units.\n\n3. \(C\): The molar concentration of the solute is typically provided in moles per liter (mol/L).\n\n4. \(R\): The universal gas constant, \(R\), is typically given in Joules per mole-Kelvin (J/(mol.K)).\n\n5. \(T\): The absolute temperature in Kelvin (K).

Unlock Step-by-Step Solutions & Ace Your Exams!

  • Full Textbook Solutions

    Get detailed explanations and key concepts

  • Unlimited Al creation

    Al flashcards, explanations, exams and more...

  • Ads-free access

    To over 500 millions flashcards

  • Money-back guarantee

    We refund you if you fail your exam.

Over 30 million students worldwide already upgrade their learning with Vaia!

One App. One Place for Learning.

All the tools & learning materials you need for study success - in one app.

Get started for free

Most popular questions from this chapter

See all solutions

Recommended explanations on Chemistry Textbooks

View all explanations

What do you think about this solution?

We value your feedback to improve our textbook solutions.

Study anywhere. Anytime. Across all devices.

Sign-up for free