Transference Numbers and Activity Coefficients of Solutions of KCI and NaCI in Glycerol Using Concentration Cells

Transference numbers and mean ionic activity coefficients of solutions of potassium chloride and sodium chloride in glycerol have been measured at 25°C using concentration cells with silver/silver chloride electrodes. The EMFs of cells with transference, using a liquid junction, were measured at concentrations between 0.001 and 0.5 mol dm−3, and the EMFs of cells without transference were measured using a potassium or sodium amalgam to link the two half-cells, at concentrations in the range 0.05 to 0.5 mol dm−3. Using the Nernst equations, cation transference numbers of 0.479 and 0.417 were deduced respectively for solutions of potassium chloride and sodium chloride in glycerol at a concentration of 0.1 mol dm−3. Activity coefficients for both salts were deduced as a function of concentration up to 0.5 mol dm−3, using independent data on the low concentration transference numbers. The results indicate similarities between the solvent properties of glycerol and water.