00:03
Hi there.
00:04
This question wants to know why we can't just mix an ion directly into water if we want a solution of a specific ion.
00:12
And the answer to that is that ions do not exist as pure solids.
00:24
So a specific ion does not exist as a pure solid.
00:36
It must be in a crystal form as a complete ionic compound, which is neutral.
01:02
Let's say ionic crystal having both a cation and an anion.
01:23
Okay, let's take a simpler example, or a simpler compound as an example.
01:28
Let's just talk about sodium chloride.
01:30
Sodium chloride is made up with the cation, sodium, and the anion chloride.
01:35
And so when we have a sample of sodium chloride, what we have are huge extended crystals of sodium and chloride ions alternating.
01:48
So as a unit, these opposite charges cancel each other out to produce this neutral compound.
02:01
All right, and these go on in all three dimensions, et cetera, et cetera.
02:10
All right.
02:11
But what you're not going to find as a solid is any one of these ions just by themselves.
02:19
Like you're not just going to have a pile of chloride ions...