Relation Between Normality and Molarity, Formula, Differences, Examples


Q1: What is the Relationship Between Normality and Molarity ?

Normality (N) and Molarity (M) are both measures of the concentration of a solution. However, normality considers the reactive capacity (n-factor) of a substance, while molarity only considers the number of moles of solute per liter of solution.

The relationship between Normality (N) and Molarity (M) is given by: $$N = M \times \text{n-factor}$$

where:

  • N = Normality (equivalents per liter)
  • M = Molarity (moles per liter)
  • n-factor = The number of H+ ions (for acids), OH ions (for bases), or electrons transferred (for redox reactions) per mole of solute.

Q2: How Does n-factor Differ for Acids, Bases, and Redox Compounds?

Substance TypeFormula for n-factorExample Calculation
AcidsNo. of H+ ions released per moleculeH2SO4 (M = 1 M, n = 2) → N = 2 N
BasesNo. of OH ions released per moleculeCa(OH)2 (M = 1 M, n = 2) → N = 2 N
SaltsTotal charge of cation/anionAl2(SO4)4 (M = 1 M, n = 6) → N = 6 N
Redox ReactionsNo. of electrons exchanged per moleculeFe2+ → Fe3+ (M = 1 M, n = 1) → N = 1 N

Q3: Can You Give Examples Showing the Relationship Between Normality and Molarity?

Example 1: For Acids

Let’s consider H2SO4 (Sulfuric acid), which releases 2 H+ ions per molecule.

  • Given: 1 M solution of H2SO4
  • n-factor = 2 (since it releases 2 H+ ions)
  • Using the formula: $N = M \times n$
  • $N = 1 \times 2 = 2N\:$ So, a 1 M solution of H2SO4 is actually 2 N.

Example 2: For Bases

Consider Ca(OH)2 (Calcium Hydroxide), which releases 2 OH ions per molecule.

  • Given: 0.5 M solution of Ca(OH)2
  • n-factor = 2 (since it releases 2 OH ions)
  • Using the formula: $N = 0.5 \times 2 = 1 N\:$ So, a 0.5 M solution of Ca(OH)2 is actually 1 N.

Example 3: For Redox Reactions

Consider Fe2+ → Fe3+, where 1 electron is lost per ion.

  • Given: 0.1 M Fe2+ solution
  • n-factor = 1 (since Fe2+ loses 1 electron)
  • Using the formula: $N = 0.1 \times 1 = 0.1 N\:$ So, a 0.1 M Fe2+ solution is also 0.1 N.

Q4: When Are Normality and Molarity the Same?

For substances where n-factor = 1, normality and molarity are the same. Examples:

  • HCl (Hydrochloric Acid)n-factor = 1
    • 1 M HCl = 1 N HCl
  • NaOH (Sodium Hydroxide)n-factor = 1
    • 1 M NaOH = 1 N NaOH
  • AgNO₃ (Silver Nitrate) in Redox Reactionsn-factor = 1
    • 1 M AgNO3 = 1 N AgNO3

Q5: Why is Normality Used Instead of Molarity?

  • Titrations & Neutralization Reactions: Since acids and bases react based on equivalents, normality gives a direct ratio.
  • Redox Reactions: Electron transfer depends on n-factor, making normality more accurate.
  • Complex Reactions: In precipitation reactions and salt reactions, normality simplifies calculations.

Normality (N) vs. Molarity (M) – Understanding the Key Difference

Both Normality (N) and Molarity (M) measure the concentration of a solution, but they serve different purposes:

  • Molarity (M): Counts the number of moles of solute per liter of solution.
  • Normality (N): Takes into account the reactive capacity of a substance in a given reaction by considering the n-factor (equivalents).

Therefore,

Molarity (M) tells us the number of molecules present.
Normality (N) tells us how reactive those molecules are in a given reaction!

This is why normality is crucial in titrations, redox reactions, and complex chemical processes where the actual reactive capacity of a solution matters. 🎯


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