Litmus test (politics) Litmus test (politics) A litmus test is a question asked of a potential candidate for high office, the answer to which would determine whether the nominating official would proceed with the appointment or nomination. The expression is a metaphor based on the litmus test in chemistry, in which one is able to test the general acidity of a substance, but not its exact pH. Those who must approve a nominee, such as a justice of the Supreme Court of the United States, may also be said to apply a litmus test to determine whether the nominee will receive their vote.
Dissociation (chemistry) variously named a "dissociation constant", an "acid ionization constant", an "acidity constant" or an "ionization constant". It serves as an indicator of the acid strength: stronger acids have a higher "K" value (and a lower p"K" value). Fragmentation of a molecule can take place by a process of heterolysis or homolysis. Receptors are proteins that bind small ligands. The dissociation constant "K" is used as indicator of the affinity of the ligand to the receptor. The higher the affinity of the ligand for the receptor the lower the "K" value (and the higher the p"K" value). Dissociation (chemistry) Dissociation in