Prediction of electrolyte solubilities from minimal thermodynamic information

Königsberger, E. (2002) Prediction of electrolyte solubilities from minimal thermodynamic information. In: Linert, W., (ed.) Highlights in Solute-Solvent Interactions. Springer-Verlag, Wien, Austria, pp. 127-150.

Abstract

It is often believed that macroscopically observable properties of electrolyte systems, like thermodynamic quantities or solubilities, can be derived from solid-solute-solvent interactions once computers have become powerful enough to solve complicated equations in order to calculate ‘everything’ from first principles. In contrast, holism claims that completely new qualities emerge in macroscopic systems, and simple reductionism is a fundamentally wrong concept because microscopic and macroscopic properties are complementary to each other in the sense of Niels Bohr’s famous concept. In fact, all molecular-level theories, but also empirical models, have failed so far to predict, for instance, solubilities of ionic solids over wide ranges of temperature, pressure, and composition in sufficient accuracy for industrial, geochemical, or environmental applications.

Item Type:	Book Chapter
Publisher:	Springer-Verlag
Copyright:	© Springer-Verlag Wien
URI:	http://researchrepository.murdoch.edu.au/id/eprint/14717

Item Control Page