File:Gomberg_dimer_dissociation.png · Wikimedia Commons · See Wikimedia Commons
dissociation
Sign in to saveAlso known as dissociate, dissociating, electrolytic dissociation theory, dissociation theory
general process in which molecules (or ionic compounds such as salts, or complexes) separate or split into smaller particles such as atoms, ions or radicals, usually in a reversible manner
~8 min read
Encyclopedic overview
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. For instance, when an acid dissolves in water, a covalent bond between an electronegative atom and a hydrogen atom is broken by heterolytic fission, which gives a proton (H) and a negative ion. Dissociation is the opposite of association or recombination.
Dissociation constant
Excerpted from Wikipedia’s “dissociation” article, available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 licence.