Final answer:
Association refers to the combining of ions or molecules to form a compound, while dissociation involves the separation of ions in a compound. These processes are important in understanding chemical reactions and the behavior of substances in solutions.
Step-by-step explanation:
Association refers to the combining of ions or molecules to form a compound, while dissociation involves the separation of ions in a compound. In other words, association brings different ions together to create a compound, while dissociation breaks the compound into its individual ions.
This process is particularly useful in chemistry as it helps explain how ionic compounds behave when in contact with water. For example, when salt (NaCl) dissolves in water, it undergoes dissociation, breaking into sodium (Na+) and chloride (Cl-) ions. On the other hand, association is useful in understanding how compounds are formed, such as when hydrogen (H2) and oxygen (O2) combine to form water (H2O).
In summary, association and dissociation are processes that describe how ions or molecules come together or separate to form compounds. Understanding these concepts is crucial in explaining chemical reactions and the behavior of substances in solutions.