ion product
Quick Summary
The ion product is a concept related to chemical equilibrium, specifically in the context of solubility. It represents the maximum product of the ionic concentrations of an electrolyte that can exist in equilibrium with its undissolved phase at a given temperature.1
For a general ionic compound that dissociates in water, like AB, the equilibrium can be represented by the chemical equation:
AB(s) \u21cc A+(aq) + B\u2212(aq)
The ion product, often referred to as the solubility product constant (Ksp), is expressed as the product of the concentrations of the dissociated ions, each raised to the power of its stoichiometric coefficient. For the example above, the expression would be:
Ksp = [A+][B\u2212]
This value indicates the extent to which an ionic compound will dissolve in water. If the product of the ion concentrations in a solution exceeds the Ksp, precipitation will occur until the product equals Ksp. Conversely, if the product is less than Ksp, more of the compound can dissolve.2
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