Calc.  SED & PREDOM / Ionic Strength / Activity Coefficient Models

The Davies equation

This is an empirical model appropriate for ionic strengths up to ≈0.1 M:
   log γi = −0.5 Zi2 (√I  /  (1+√I ) − 0.3 I )

where I is the ionic strength; γi is the activity coefficient of an ion “i” with electric charge Zi.  The last parameter was initially “0.2” (Davies 1938) but it was later changed to “0.3” (Davies 1962).

The Davies equation is derived from the Debye-Hückel model, simplified by setting åBγ = 1 for all electrolytes, and extended with the empirical term: +0.15 Zi2 I.

In SPANA (and SED/PREDOM) the parameter “0.5” is replaced by the “Aγ” parameter of the Debye-Hückel model which is temperature- and pressure-dependent (see Table; Aγ = 0.509 (mol/kg)−½ at 25°C); but the value “0.3” in the last term of the Davies equation is kept constant at all temperatures and pressures.

The activity of water (H2O) is given by:
    log aH2O = − Φ ∑mk / (ln(10) 55.508)

where “k” are all solute species in the aqeuous solution, and “Φ” is the osmotic coefficient, which for the Davies equation it is given by:
    Φ = 1 − (2 AΦ I3/2 (1/∑mk) σ(√I)) + (1/∑mk) ln(10) (Aγ×0.3) I2

where AΦ = (1/3) ln(10) Aγ, and
    σ(x) = (3/x3) ((1+x) − 1/(1+x) − 2 ln(1+x))

Note: in the calculations the values of log γi are cut-off to be in the range ±(20 Zi2), and log aH2O is cut-off to be in the range ±4.

References


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