Dissociation in chemistry is a general process in which molecules (or ionic compounds such as salts, or complexes) separate or split into other things such as atoms, ions, or radicals, usually in a reversible manner. The degree of dissociation refers to the amount of solute dissociated into ions or radicals per mole, and it is usually indicated by the Greek symbol α. The dissociation degree is the fraction of original solute molecules that have dissociated. Strong acids and bases have a high degree of dissociation, while less powerful acids and bases have a lesser degree of dissociation.
Dissociation is a chemical reaction in which a molecule or compound breaks into smaller pieces, such as ions, atoms, or radicals. For example, hydrochloric acid (HCl) dissociates in water, forming the H+ and Cl– ions. Usually, dissociation is a reversible process, and the reverse of dissociation is association or recombination. The general formula for a dissociation reaction is AB ⇄ A + B, where AB is the original molecule or compound, and A and B are the dissociated products.
Ionic compounds dissociate when they dissolve in water, and nonionic compounds do not dissociate in water. The idea of ionic dissociation is used to explain electrical conductivity and many other properties of electrolytic solutions. Gases also undergo dissociation, and some compounds have options regarding dissociation, and can form a variety of products.
