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Are molar and equivalent conductivities at infinite dilution; is ionic conductivity at infinite dilution? Then for potash alum:

(a) Molar conductivity is equal to equivalent conductivity.

(b) Ionic conductivity is greater than molar and equivalent conductivities.

(c) Equivalent conductivity is greater than molar conductivity.

(d) Molar conductivity is greater than equivalent conductivity.

1 Answer

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Final answer:

Molar conductivity is greater than equivalent conductivity for potash alum due to the multiple ions released per formula unit, and this is consistent with the relationship between a solution's conductivity and the strength and number of its dissolved ions.

Step-by-step explanation:

When discussing conductivities at infinite dilution, it's important to distinguish between molar conductivity and equivalent conductivity. Molar conductivity (λm) represents the conductivity due to one mole of ions in solution and is higher for electrolytes that dissociate into more ions.

Equivalent conductivity (λeq) is the conductivity due to one equivalent of ions, which is the amount that would combine with or replace one mole of hydrogen ions. For potash alum, which is a 1:2 electrolyte (formula: KAl(SO4)2·12H2O), its molar conductivity is expected to be greater than its equivalent conductivity because there are multiple ions per formula unit. This relationship is apparent from conductivity measurements in electrolyte solutions which reveal that the solution's capacity to conduct electricity is directly linked to the strength of the electrolyte and the number of dissolved ions.

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