"100 years since the Debye-Hückel equation for electrolyte solutions.
What have we learnt and what we still need to know"
Abstract
In chemical engineering, petroleum engineering and even biochemical engineering and biotechnology, electrolyte solutions find many applications. About 100 years ago Peter Debye and Erich Hückel wrote (in German) a paper presenting a new theory for the electrostatic interactions between ions in solutions.
They did that in a period where it wasnot widespread accepted that intermolecular forces are crucial in electrolyte thermodynamics (itis today!) Their model, since called Debye-Hückel equation (theory), has been of great value and has been extensively used in both engineering and science.
At the same time, it could be stated that few models have been used/misused, judged/misjudged, praised/accused as much as the Debye-Hückel theory. Among others, its use, range of applicability have been debated (and still do!) and even what exactly it is that Debye and Hückel have actually proposed.
In this presentation, with input from literature, especially our studies in the ERC project ("New paradigm in electrolyte thermodynamics"), we will present some of the things we have learnt about the Debye-Hückel theory in the 100 years since its appearance but also discuss the questions which still remain unanswered.