Re: Ionization vs. Dissassociation

Bob wrote: 
On 27 Apr 2005 17:42:05 -0700, "Ryn" <yandoryn@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:


I'm very annoyed at my textbook.

It uses the terms ionization and dissassociation interchangably. I use
Zumdahl (5th ed).

It irks me mostly because ionization is a chemical change while
dissassociation is a physical change...by using the two words
interchangably you would assume that dissolving salt is a chemical
change simply because dissolving HCl (g) in water is a chemical change.
Or vice versa.

Am I just being nit-picky?



One book I just checked defines ionization (in the glossary) as the
energy induced loss of an electron -- and then the index has a list of
ionization constants for acids. I won't even bother to check further.

You hae a good point, but it will confuse the person who asked the question, unless there is some explanation of the difference. The first example makes sense for an isolated atom, as in a plasma, where the product is an ion and an electron. In the second case, a compound breaks up in solution to form two ions, one of which is the hydrogen ion. 

You are making a good distinction between HCl and NaCl, but the terms
do not get used consistently. Don't get too hung up on the terms.

However, I don’t think it is so helpful to make a big point of
dissolving salt as being physical vs chemical. There is merit in
seeing that it can be considered either.

bob

.

Relevant Pages

  • Re: Ionization vs. Dissassociation
    ... >It uses the terms ionization and dissassociation interchangably. ... >change simply because dissolving HCl in water is a chemical change. ... dissolving salt as being physical vs chemical. ...
    (sci.chem)
  • Ionization vs. Dissassociation
    ... It uses the terms ionization and dissassociation interchangably. ... It irks me mostly because ionization is a chemical change while ... interchangably you would assume that dissolving salt is a chemical ... change simply because dissolving HCl in water is a chemical change. ...
    (sci.chem)