The electric conductance of dilute sulfuric acid in water: a new theoretical interpretation

The variation of the activity coefficient aqueous sulfuric acid with concentration, solution's temperature, and solvent's (water) dielectric constant, clearly fits a typical strong 1–3 electrolyte behaviour [Fraenkel, J. Phys. Chem. B. 116, 11662 (2012)]. Therefore, was proposed to have molecular formula H4SO5, dissociate 3H+ (3H3O+) 1HSO53?. When above study reported, electric conductivity data could not be theoretically interpreted prove or disprove behaviour, due lack an appropriate conductance theory. improved Debye–Hückel–Onsager (DHO) theory, DHO–SiS, recently reported 20, 29896 (2018)], allows, unlike its parent quantitative analysis 1–1, 1–2 electrolytes. A good-to-excellent theory–experiment agreement is achieved for dilute H2SO4 at 0–50°C, but only if considered, as before, electrolyte; new thus corroborates previous activity-based findings. In contrast, in pure methanol follows conventional dissociation pattern, exhibiting ‘mixed 1–1/1–2’ behaviour.