Conductivities and ion association of 1:1 electrolytes in mixed aprotic solvents

Molar conductivities of the 1:1 electrolytes LiClO₄, LiAsF₆, n-Bu₄NClO₄ and n-Bu₄NBPh₄ were measured in mixtures of propylene carbonate and dimethoxymethane over the concentration range 0.01?1 × 10^?4 mol dm^?3. In all cases a maximum in molar conductivity (and hence in electrolytic conductivity) is observed in a solvent mixture having a composition of around 40 mass % propylene carbonate. Molar conductivities at infinite dilution (Λ^∞) and thermodynamic ion association constants (K^∞_a) were evaluated from these data. Single ion molar conductivities (λ^∞_i) were evaluated using the assumption that λ^∞(n-BuN⁺₄) = λ^∞(BPh^?₄). In order to account for the observed conductivity behavior it is necessary to assume that lithium salts from solvent separated ion pairs in ethereal solvents. All other salts from contact ion pairs.