Question:

Why are equimolar solutions of sodium chloride and glucose not isotonic?

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The van 't Hoff factor (\( i \)) plays a crucial role in determining osmotic pressure. For ionic compounds like NaCl, \( i \) is greater than 1 due to dissociation, whereas for non-electrolytes like glucose, \( i = 1 \).
Updated On: Feb 25, 2025
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Solution and Explanation

Sodium chloride undergoes dissociation (\( i = 2 \)) in water, while glucose does not (\( i = 1 \)). The osmotic pressure is given by: \[ \pi = i C R T \] For NaCl, \( i = 2 \), and for glucose, \( i = 1 \). Therefore, equimolar solutions of NaCl and glucose do not have the same osmotic pressure and are not isotonic.
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