What must we know a given ionic salt to be able to predict whether is is a good or poor conductor, w/o testing its conductivity?
dissociation constant would be very nice to know
To predict whether an ionic salt is a good or poor conductor without testing its conductivity, you need to consider a few factors:
1. Ionic Strength: The concentration of ions in the solution affects the conductivity. Higher concentrations generally result in better conductivity.
2. Charge Density: The higher the charge density of the ions, the better the conductivity. Smaller, highly charged ions tend to conduct better than larger, less charged ones.
3. Ion Size: The size of the ions also affects conductivity. Smaller ions can move more freely and therefore conduct electricity better.
4. Solubility: The salt must be soluble in the solvent (usually water) for it to conduct electricity. Insoluble salts do not dissociate into ions and therefore do not conduct.
By considering these factors, you can make predictions about the conductivity of a given ionic salt. It's important to note that these predictions are not always accurate, as other factors such as temperature and impurities can also influence conductivity.