Electrostatic interactions in electrolyte solutions

Abstract

A simple equation for the electrostatic terms of activity and osmotic coefficients and of the Gibbs function is developed from the statistically derived equations of Kirkwood. This follows Kirkwood’s equations accurately up to ka = 0·8 and then turns into a cube root function appropriate to a disordered lattice model at higher concentrations. The use of these equations removes many anomalies which occur when the Debye-Hückel equation is used at concentrations for which it was not intended and gives a consistent picture up to values of ka = 20 for all types of aqueous electrolyte solutions.