Electrolytes and Nonelectrolytes
Definition and properties: ELECTROLYTES NONELECTROLYTES Definition and properties: A substance that dissolves in water and conducts an electric current. (Has mobile ions) Definition and properties: A substance that dissolves in water and does not produce an electric current. (No mobile ions)
Alcohols (CxHyOH, suffic –ol) Glycerin Sugars (CxHyOz) Note: Electrolytes Nonelectrolytes Examples: Acids, bases and salts A. Strong Electrolyte: Dissociates completely into ions. Strong acids: large ka (table K—HCl, HNO3,H2SO4,HBr &HI) Strong Bases: large Kb (table F—soluble hydroxides) Soluble salts: large ksp (table F-soluble salts) B. Weak Electrolyte: Doesn’t dissociate completely into ions Weak acids: small ka (all the rest) Weak bases: small kb (table F-insoluble hydroxides) Insoluble salts: small ksp (table F-insoluble salts) Alcohols (CxHyOH, suffic –ol) Glycerin Sugars (CxHyOz) Note: Dissociate: ionic substances dissociate (break down) into ions. Ionize: Molecular substances need water to produce ions.
Classify the following as nonelectrolytes, strong electrolytes or weak electrolytes: HCl water NaCl (s) NaCl (aq) Vinegar NaOH (s) NaOH (aq) Sugar (s) Sugar (aq) Calcium carbonate (s) Calcium carbonate (aq) Ethanol Magnesium hydroxide(s) Magnesium hydroxide (aq)
Nonelectrolytes Water Sodium hydroxide (s) Sodium chloride (s) Sugar (s) Sugar (aq) Calcium carbonate (s) Ethanol Magnesium hydroxide (s) Strong Electrolytes HCl Sodium hydroxide (aq) Sodium chloride (aq) Weak Electrolytes Vinegar Calcium carbonate (aq) Magnesium hydroxide (aq)