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AAT Bioquest

What are the limitations of using normality?

Posted August 26, 2024


Answer

One limitation is normality relies on a defined equivalence factor, which varies based on the type of chemical reaction involved. Another limitation is the normality of a solution isn’t fixed. It can change depending on the specific chemical reaction being studied. For example, the same solution can have different normality values for different reactions. Additionally, chemists often use normality in acid-base chemistry to simplify calculations and achieve more precise results by avoiding mole ratios. However, outside these specific applications, normality can be less suitable. Normality is also an uncertain measurement, and molarity or molality are better alternatives for units.

Additional resources

Normality

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Serial Dilution Calculator and Planner