Question

Indicate whether aqueous solutions of each of the following solutes contain only ions, only molecules, or mostly molecules and a few ions:

a. Acetic acid, $H{C}_2{H}_3{O}_2$, a weak electrolyte.

b. $NaBr$, a strong electrolyte.

c. fructose,$C_6{H}_{12}{O}_6$, a nonelectrolyte.

Short answer

(part a) Acetic acid, $H{C}_2{H}_3{O}_2$a weak electrolyte containing mostly molecules containing ions

(part b) localid="1652522483140" $NaBr$, is a strong electrolyte that contains $N{a}^{+}$and $B{r}^{-}$ions.

(part c) Fructose $\left(C_6{H}_{12}{O}_6\right)$dissolves in water as molecules.

Step-by-step solution

Given information (part a)

Molecules are neutral particles that are established through the bond formation of atoms of two or more elements. An ion is a positively or negatively charged particle formed by the loss or gain of electrons.

Find the aqueous solutions contains molecules or ions (part a).

Given:

Acetic acid$\left(H{C}_2{H}_3{O}_2\right)$, a weak electrolyte. Weak electrolytes don't completely dissociate into ions.

Acetic acid solutions are mostly molecules with a few ions.

Find the aqueous solutions contains molecules or ions (part b). 

Given:

$NaBr$, a strong electrolyte. Strong electrolytes dissociate almost completely into corresponding ions in a solution.

A $NaBr$solution contains salt ions, $N{a}^{+}$ions, and $B{r}^{-}$ions.

Find the aqueous solutions contains molecules or ions (part c). 

Given:

Fructose$\left(C_6{H}_{12}{O}_6\right)$, a non-electrolyte. Non- electrolytes do not dissociate into ions.

Fructose $\left(C_6{H}_{12}{O}_6\right)$, a non-electrolyte, dissolves in the water as molecules.