Dielectric Saturation of Associated Liquids

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Abstract
Equations are developed which take into account the effect of association in liquids on dielectric saturation. The treatment emphasizes the strong relation between dielectric properties and the mean fluctuation of electric moment of fluids in the absence of electric fields. For water the results indicate a saturation effect above five times the value predicted by the equations of Van Vleck, which is not applicable to associated liquids. The equations derived are rigorously applicable only to systems where the field strength is not subject to variations over distances of microscopic dimensions (like all other dielectric theories). However, when applied to a dielectric 5 A from a singly charged ion they indicate that saturation effects are negligible. If the present treatment is granted, the decrease in dielectric constant which arises from saturation is of the same order of magnitude as the increase in dielectric constant caused by electrostriction. A realistic theory of dielectrics in very strong fields must simultaneously include both effects.