Some substances, when dissolved in water, undergo either a physical or a chemical change that results in constituent cations and anions in the solution. This process of dissociation of a substance into its ions is known every bit ionization and the substances that undergo ionization are called electrolytes. Substances that do not ionize when dissolved in water are chosen nonelectrolytes.

Depending upon the extent or degree of ionization, the electrolytes are divided into two types:

Stiff electrolytes are the chemic substances that ionize completely when dissolved in water, whereas weak electrolytes just ionize partially. This means that the chief species in solution for strong electrolytes are ions, while the main species in solution for weak electrolytes is the united nations-ionized compound itself.

Types of electrolytes - Strong vs Weak Electrolyte in image form

Strong vs. Weak Electrolytes

Strong electrolyte Weak electrolyte
Stiff electrolytes ionize completely when dissolved in water Weak electrolytes ionize partially in water
At that place is 100% ionization, so the principal species are the ions of the electrolytes in the solution The ionization is less, roughly 1-ten%. The master species in solution for weak electrolytes is the unionized electrolyte itself
Solutions containing a strong electrolyte will accept high electrical electrical conductivity Solutions containing a weak electrolyte will take low electric conductivity
Ostwald'due south dilution law is not applicable Ostwald's dilution law is applicative
Strong acids, strong bases, and salts (except some) are strong electrolytes Weak acids and weak bases are weak electrolytes
HCl, NaCl, NaOH are some examples of strong electrolytes

HF and NHiii are some examples of weak electrolytes

Weak Electrolytes and their Examples

The substances which ionize upwards to a pocket-size extent into ions are chosen weak electrolytes. The molecules of a weak electrolyte are in equilibrium with its ions in a solution. Therefore, the equation which involves the ionization of weak electrolytes is represented with double-headed arrows, pregnant, the reaction is reversible, such as,

NH3 + HiiO ⇌ NHiv + + OH–

CH3COOH + HiiO ⇌ H3O+ + CH3COO–

Examples of weak electrolytes include acerb acid (CH3COOH), carbonic acid (HiiCOthree), ammonia (NH3), hydrogen fluoride (HF), hydrogen cyanide (HCN), and pyridine (C2HfiveN), etc.

Strong Electrolytes and their Examples

The substances which ionize completely into ions are known equally strong electrolytes. Here the unionized molecules (electrolytes) are present in such a small amount that they can be neglected. Likewise, they are not of any significance to study the ionization abiding of strong electrolytes. Unlike the weak electrolytes, the equation for the ionization of strong electrolytes is not represented with double-headed arrows, such as,

HCl + HiiO → H3O+ + Cl–

HNOiii + H2O → HiiiO+ + NO3 –

Examples of strong electrolytes are HCl, NaOH, NaCl, H2SOfour, KBr, etc. A list of further examples is provided in the lower section of this article.

Related topics

  • Oxidation vs. Reduction
  • Randles-Sevcik equation
  • Rules for assigning oxidation numbers

How to Categorize the Electrolytes

Substances may be categorized equally strong, weak, or nonelectrolytes by studying their electrical conductance in an aqueous solution. The solution volition conduct electricity if it contains free and charged ions. The nonelectrolytes are out of the discussion hither every bit their aqueous solution would not behave current due to the lack of charged species.

It is of import to annotation that the conductivity of an electrolyte solution is related to the strength of the electrolyte. This ways that the greater the ionic concentration of the solution there is, the greater will be the conduction. And then, upon applying a voltage to electrodes immersed in a solution, one shall discover out the ionic concentration quantitatively; by measuring the electric electric current, or by observing the brightness of a light bulb included in the circuit (such light is used in spectroscopic techniques to quantify data).

Types of electrolytes - Strong vs Weak vs non Electrolyte

The quantitative applications of electrolysis imply colorimeters continued past salt bridges. Such applications lead to galvanic cells, electrochemical cells, standard electrode systems, Nelson jail cell, Down prison cell, etc.

Key Takeaways

Types of electrolytes - Strong vs Weak Electrolyte in image form

Concepts Berg

Give a listing of stiff electrolytes.

Strong acids are potent electrolytes:

  • Hydrochloric acid, HCl
  • Hydroiodic acid, HI
  • Hydrobromic acid, HBr
  • Nitric acid, HNOthree
  • Sulfuric acid, H2And so4
  • Chloric acid, HClOiii
  • Perchloric acrid, HClO4
  • Lithium hydroxide, LiOH

Strong bases are stiff electrolytes:

  • Sodium hydroxide, NaOH
  • Potassium hydroxide, KOH
  • Calcium hydroxide, Ca(OH)2
  • Barium hydroxide, Ba(OH)2

Examples of some salts as stiff electrolytes:

  • Sodium chloride, NaCl
  • Magnesium sulfate, MgSO4
  • Ammonium nitrate, NH4NO3
  • Calcium chloride, CaClii
  • Potassium bromide (KBr)
  • Ammonium nitrate (NH4NO3)
  • Sodium carbonate (Na2COiii), etc

How to know if a chemic is an electrolyte?

Electrolytes dissociate into ions when added to water. If a chemical is an electrolyte it must dissociate whether weak or strong.

Is CH3COOH a weak or stiff electrolyte?

Acetic acid, CH3COOH is a weak electrolyte considering it is a weak acid.

How can you tell if an electrolyte is strong or weak?

Depending on the extent of ionization in water, the electrolyte tin be regarded as stiff or weak. The more ionization, the stronger the electrolyte.

Is NH3 a weak or strong electrolyte?

Ammonia, NH3 is a weak electrolyte because it is a weak base.

Is HCl a stiff or weak electrolyte?

HCl is a strong electrolyte as it is a strong acrid.

Why can't pure water be used as an electrolyte?

Water cannot exist used as an electrolyte considering pure h2o is not an electrolyte. The common concept of h2o being an electrolyte is due to the impurities nowadays, that make it ionize itself, leading to electrolysis and being an electrolyte.

Is NaOH a strong or weak electrolyte?

Sodium hydroxide, NaOH is a potent base, so, information technology is a strong electrolyte likewise.

Strong vs weak electrolyte conductivity

The greater the strength of the electrolyte, the higher will be the electrical conductivity. This is because stiff electrolyte solutions take more costless-charged species (ions).

What is the deviation between electrolyte and nonelectrolyte?

Electrolytes are substances that ionize in solutions and grade ions whereas nonelectrolytes do non ionize when added into water or other solvents.

References

  • Foundations of Higher Chemical science, (Alternate Thirteenth edition) by Morris Hein (Mount San Antonio College), Susan Arena (Academy of Illinois, Urbana, Champaign)
  • Introduction to Environmental Geotechnology by Hsai-Yang Fang (Lehigh University, Pennsylvania)
  • General Chemistry Principles and Structure| Third edition, pastJames E. Brandy (St. John'due south University, Jamaica, New York) andGerard E. Humiston (Widener University, West Chester, Pennsylvania) – [SI version, Prepared by Henry Heikkinen (Academy of Maryland, United states)]
  • Electrolytes (Opentextbc.ca)
  • Classifying Electrolytes (Stolaf.edu)

Was this commodity helpful?

Similar Topics