Studies of the processes operative in solutions. XXV. -The influence of non-electrolytes on solubility. The nature of the processes of dissolution and precipitation

Abstract

The subject of ''competitive solubility" has been dealt with in two previous communications of this series, parts II and XI. In both of these, emphasis was laid on the fact that electrolytes and non-electrolytes are alike active as precipitants of salts from aqueous solutions and it was implied that no "theory" of the process of dissolution which dose not take this fact into account can be satisfactory. The activity of the several precipitants studied was expressed in terms of their apparent molecular hydration—that is to say, the method of treatment adopted involved the evaluation of the amount of water thrown out of action as solvent water by the precipitant: ears was taken, however, to point out that this artifice was introduced merely on the Around of convenience and that the expression "apparent moleoular hydration" was not to be inter­preted literally.