Published online by Cambridge University Press: 11 May 2009
Recent equations for calculating the osmotic coefficient of sea water from the properties of the component single-electrolyte solutions are discussed. Two equations are introduced that together provide accurate predictions of the osmotic coefficient of sea water for ionic strengths up to 4 M (equivalent to a fivefold concentration of standard sea water). Since they take into account the detailed solution composition these equations should be useful for calculating the osmotic coefficients of estuarine waters and of biological salines where procedures based on curve fitting to standard sea-water data may be inapplicable. Extensions of the calculations to cover a wide pressure and temperature range are discussed in some detail.