Note 158 — Chapter V · THE THEORY OF IONIZATION. II Ionization and Osmotic Pressure. Ionization and Chemical Activity

In a 0.1 molar solution of potassium cyanide, the potassium hydroxide formed by the decomposition of the cyanide by water is approximately 0.0013 molar and the concentration of hydrogen-ion is reduced to 10−11 (Chapter X), a value roughly of the same order as that calculated above as a possible concentration of hydrogen-ion in a benzene solution of hydrogen chloride. In spite of this small concentration of hydrogen-ion in the cyanide solution, the reactions in which it is involved are, as far as known, completed in a few moments. Only for much smaller concentrations of ions have any doubts as to their direct action been aroused; in Chapter XII this question, as raised by Haber, is discussed for concentrations of ions of the order of 10−23. Haber considers that ionic concentrations of 10−14 can still account for very fast actions.