Role of Ionic Strength in Solubility of Salts in India

Abstract

Purpose: The aim of the study was to assess the role of ionic strength in solubility of salts in India. Methodology: This study adopted a desk methodology. A desk study research design is commonly known as secondary data collection. This is basically collecting data from existing resources preferably because of its low cost advantage as compared to a field research. Our current study looked into already published studies and reports as the data was easily accessed through online journals and libraries. Findings: Ionic strength increases, the electrostatic interactions between oppositely charged ions in the salt and the surrounding ions in the solution are weakened, leading to changes in solubility. Higher ionic strength often results in greater solubility of salts due to the shielding effect, which reduces ion pairing and prevents precipitation. However, in some cases, extremely high ionic strength may lead to the "salting out" effect, where solubility decreases as ions compete for solvation. This relationship is essential in fields like chemistry and environmental science, where understanding solubility is crucial for processes such as crystallization and precipitation reactions. Implications to Theory, Practice and Policy: Debye-hückel theory, van’t hoff factor and colligative properties theory may be used to anchor future studies on the role of ionic strength in solubility of salts in India. Industries involved in chemical manufacturing and wastewater treatment should adopt protocols that account for ionic strength when designing their processes. Policymakers should establish regulatory frameworks that promote the inclusion of ionic strength considerations in environmental assessments.