Final answer:
The degree of dissociation (α) is 1 for a fully dissociated molecule and 0 for a non-dissociated molecule, representing the fraction of a substance that has dissociated in solution.
Step-by-step explanation:
The degree of dissociation (α) refers to the fraction of a substance that has dissociated into ions in solution. For a fully dissociated molecule, such as a strong electrolyte, the degree of dissociation (α) is 1, meaning 100% of the substance dissociates. On the other hand, for a non-dissociated molecule, the degree of dissociation (α) is 0, as no dissociation occurs. An example of a fully dissociated reaction is when HCl reacts with H₂O: almost 100% of HCl molecules dissociate, making α equal to 1.
On the contrary, non-dissociated molecules, such as diatomic molecules like H₂ under standard conditions, do not dissociate at all, making α equal to 0. The dissociation energy is the amount of energy needed to break apart a molecule into atoms or ions. For example, the dissociation energy for a single C-H bond in methane would be determined by dividing the total dissociation energy by the number of bonds.