6. Solubility Product

Many ionic compounds or salts only show a limited solubility in aqueous solution. The part of these compounds that dissolves, readily decomposes completely into ions. In a saturated solution of such a salt, a dynamic heterogeneous equilibrium exists between the undissolved solid and the ions in solution.

AgCl(s) Ag+(aq) + Cl-(aq) with the equilibrium constant. Ksp is called the solubility product. The expression for the solubility product of any salt MpLq(s) can be derived by considering the equilibrium constant for its dissolution in water: MpLq(s) p Mm+(aq) + q Ln-(aq) and

Summary