Question

What is the difference between a nonelectrolyte and an electrolyte? Between a weak electrolyte and a strong electrolyte?

Short answer

Nonelectrolytes do not ionize in water and do not conduct electricity, while electrolytes do. Of the latter, strong electrolytes ionize completely and conduct electricity well, whereas weak electrolytes partially ionize and are poor electricity conductors.

Step-by-step solution

Define non-electrolyte

A nonelectrolyte is a substance that does not exist in an ionic form in solvents. It does not ionize when dissolved in water and hence does not conduct electricity.

Define electrolyte

An electrolyte is a substance that produces an electrically conducting solution when dissolved in a polar solvent, such as water. Electrolytes ionize into positive and negative ions when dissolved in a solution, such as water, and are able to conduct electricity.

Compare electrolyte and non-electrolyte

The primary difference between electrolytes and nonelectrolytes lies in their ability to ionize in water and conduct electricity. An electrolyte will split into ions and conduct electricity while a nonelectrolyte will not split into ions and cannot conduct electricity.

Define weak electrolyte

A weak electrolyte is a solution that only undergoes a small degree of ionization in water. Hence, it conducts only a small amount of electricity.

Define strong electrolyte

A strong electrolyte is a solution/solute that completely, or almost completely, ionizes or dissociates in a solution. As a result of these reactions, solutions of strong electrolytes are good conductors of electricity.

Compare weak and strong electrolytes

The primary difference between weak and strong electrolytes is the degree of ionization. Strong electrolytes completely ionize in solution allowing them to conduct electricity well, whereas weak electrolytes only partially ionize resulting in a poor conduction of electricity.