Question

Give an example of a strong electrolyte and a nonelectrolyte.

Short answer

Strong electrolyte: Sodium Chloride (NaCl); Nonelectrolyte: Sucrose (C₁₂H₂₂O₁₁).

Step-by-step solution

Understand Electrolytes

Electrolytes are substances that dissolve in water to produce a solution that conducts electricity. These include strong acids, strong bases, and salts. They dissociate completely into ions in solution.

Identify a Strong Electrolyte

A strong electrolyte is a substance that fully dissociates into ions when dissolved in water. A common example is sodium chloride (NaCl). When dissolved in water, it dissociates completely into Na⁺ and Cl⁻ ions.

Recognize Nonelectrolytes

Nonelectrolytes are substances that do not dissociate into ions in solution and therefore do not conduct electricity. Most molecular compounds, especially organic compounds without significant ionic character, fall into this category. A typical example is sucrose (table sugar), C₁₂H₂₂O₁₁, which dissolves in water but does not produce any ions.

Key concepts

Understanding Strong Electrolytes

Strong electrolytes are substances that, when dissolved in water, dissociate fully into ions. This complete dissociation is crucial for conducting electricity effectively, as the movement of ions allows for the transfer of electrical charge through the solution.

Examples of strong electrolytes include:

• Salts: Sodium chloride (NaCl) is a classic example. It readily dissociates into Na⁺ and Cl⁻ ions in water.
• Strong Acids: Hydrochloric acid (HCl) dissociates completely into H⁺ and Cl⁻ ions.
• Strong Bases: Potassium hydroxide (KOH) dissociates into K⁺ and OH⁻ ions.

The key to identifying a strong electrolyte is its ability to produce a large number of free ions in solution, making it a proficient conductor of electricity.

Exploring Nonelectrolytes

Nonelectrolytes are substances that do not dissociate into ions when dissolved in water. This means they do not conduct electricity because there are no ions to carry an electric charge within the solution.

Common characteristics of nonelectrolytes include:

• Typically molecular compounds, such as organic molecules.
• Lack of ionic character, meaning there are no positive or negative charges formed.
• Presence in water as intact molecules rather than ions.

A perfect example of a nonelectrolyte is sucrose (C₁₂H₂₂O₁₁), or table sugar. When it dissolves in water, it remains as whole molecules, not ions, and thus does not facilitate electrical conductivity.

The Process of Dissociation

Dissociation is a process by which a compound separates into its constituent ions when dissolved in a solvent, such as water. This process is fundamental to understanding how electrolytes function.

Key points about dissociation:

• Ion Formation: In strong electrolytes, substances such as NaCl separate into Na⁺ and Cl⁻ ions completely.
• Conductivity: The more ions that are present in a solution, the better its ability to conduct electricity, as is observed with strong electrolytes.
• Nonelectrolytes: These substances do not undergo dissociation, hence remain non-conductive.

Understanding dissociation helps in discerning why some substances like strong electrolytes are effective in conducting electricity while others like nonelectrolytes are not. It's a fundamental concept for deciphering the behavior of solutions in chemistry.