Conductance Studies of Concentrated Solutions of Sodium Hydroxide and Potassium Hydroxide Electrolytes

Most of the basic assumptions for the theory of conductance were originated by Onsager. Debye and Falkenhagen extended the Onsager theory in their studies with the use of alternating current methods. To this day, theories of conductance in electrolytic solutions are founded principally upon developments of these early basic ideas. However, the theoretical treatment in the case of concentrated solutions is still inadequate. This is due to the circumstance that the general molecular theory of irreversible processes is still in a developmental stage. In addition, the electrolytic solution comprises a complex system whose exact treatment encounters formidable mathematical difficulties. It has been possible, with the ·aid of a few general assumptions and the introduction of the concept of ionic diameter, to extend the range of validity of the limiting laws for the dilute solutions by a considerable margin. But for the highly concentrated electrolytic solutions, the uncertainty as to the best approach in the explanation of the experimental results still exists. The object of this research is to investigate the conductances of the concentrated solutions of sodium hydroxide, potassium hydroxide, and their mixtures in order to help understand the nature of these electrolytic solutions. Furthermore, the conductance data obtained should have immediate applicability in the technology of alkaline electrolyte systems