What is Ksp in chemistry?

Answer 1

#K_(sp)# is the so-called solubility product, that quantifies the solubility of a salt in water.

Consider a sparingly soluble salt, #MX#, in water.

We can represent its solubility in water in the following way:

#MX(s) rightleftharpoonsM^+ + X^-#

As for any equilibrium, we can write (and quantify) this equilibrium:

#([M^+][X^-])/([MX(s)])# #=# #K_(sp)#
But #[MX(s)]# is meaningless, as you cannot have the concentration of a solid, so we are left the solubility expression:
#K_(sp) = [M^+][X^-]#
#K_(sp)# have been measured for a great variety of insoluble and sparingly soluble salts . Why? Because suppose you were trying to isolate precious metal salts, i.e. those of gold, or rhodium, or iridium. You don't want to throw precious metals away. Likewise, if you had lead, or cadmium, or mercury salts, you don't want to throw these metals away, for the reason that you might poison the waterways.
#K_(sp),"lead chloride "=1.62xx10^-5# at #25# #""^@C#. A temperature is specified because a hot solution can normally hold more solute than a cold one.
#PbCl_2(s) rightleftharpoons Pb^(2+) + 2Cl^-#
And, #K_(sp)=[Pb^(2+)][Cl^-]^2=1.62xx10^-5#.
If we say #[Pb^(2+)]=S#, then #K_(sp)=(S)(2S)^2#.
i.e. #K_(sp)=4S^3#.
And thus #S# #=# #""^3sqrt{{(1.62xx10^-5)/(4)}# #=# #??*mol*L^-1#.
I leave it to you to solve for the solubility of lead chloride in water in #g*L^-1# under standard conditions.
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Answer 2

Ksp, or the solubility product constant, is a measure of the extent to which a sparingly soluble salt dissolves in water. It represents the equilibrium constant for the dissolution reaction of a solid salt into its respective ions in a saturated solution.

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Answer from HIX Tutor

When evaluating a one-sided limit, you need to be careful when a quantity is approaching zero since its sign is different depending on which way it is approaching zero from. Let us look at some examples.

When evaluating a one-sided limit, you need to be careful when a quantity is approaching zero since its sign is different depending on which way it is approaching zero from. Let us look at some examples.

When evaluating a one-sided limit, you need to be careful when a quantity is approaching zero since its sign is different depending on which way it is approaching zero from. Let us look at some examples.

When evaluating a one-sided limit, you need to be careful when a quantity is approaching zero since its sign is different depending on which way it is approaching zero from. Let us look at some examples.

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