The Elements of Qualitative Chemical Analysis, vol. 1, parts 1 and 2. / With Special Consideration of the Application of the Laws of Equilibrium and of the Modern Theories of Solution.

by Julius Stieglitz

The nonionized silver acetate is present in two phases, in the solid phase and also in solution:

CH₃COOAg ↓ ⇄ CH₃COOAg.

(2)

Applying the law of physical equilibrium to this system, we have further (p. [121])

[CH₃COOAg] / [CH₃COOAg]_solid = K.

II

The concentration of a pure solid, as we have seen, may be considered a constant at a given temperature. Consequently, if we consider the question of the size of the solid particles as a minor factor and negligible, we shall conclude, that, for saturated solutions of silver acetate, the concentration of the solid silver acetate being a constant, the concentration of the nonionized or molecular silver acetate, the first term of our constant ratio II, must also have some definite, constant value at a given temperature. We may call this concentration the "molecular solubility" of silver acetate and may put

[CH₃COOAg] = K_{mol. sol.}

III

for a saturated solution of silver acetate in water at the given temperature. Now, since the concentration of the nonionized silver acetate, [CH₃COOAg], in the saturated solution also forms the second term of equation I, representing the condition of chemical equilibrium between the acetate and its ions, we obtain, by combining I and III,