Can van't hoff factor be negative?

The van't Hoff factor (i) is defined as the ratio of the number of particles in solution to the number of formula units dissolved. It is typically a positive integer or a positive fraction, as it represents the number of particles resulting from the dissociation of a solute. In standard scenariOS, the van't Hoff factor cannot be negative because it reflects the quantity of particles and cannot represent a loss or absence of particles in a solution. However, theoretical or hypothetical situations might arise in advanced contexts, but they do not hold practical significance in typical solutions.