Question

What is the difference between an electrolyte and a nonelectrolyte?

Short answer

Electrolytes conduct electricity in solution due to ion formation; nonelectrolytes do not.

Step-by-step solution

Define Electrolyte

An electrolyte is a substance that dissolves in water to produce a solution that conducts electricity. This occurs because the substance dissociates into ions, which are charged particles capable of carrying an electric current.

Define Nonelectrolyte

A nonelectrolyte is a substance that dissolves in water to form a solution that does not conduct electricity. Nonelectrolytes do not dissociate into ions in solution.

Compare Conductivity

Electrolytes conduct electricity in a solution due to the presence of free-moving ions, whereas nonelectrolytes do not conduct electricity because they do not generate ions in solution.

Key concepts

Conductivity

Conductivity refers to the ability to conduct electric current. Solutions can either conduct electricity or not, based on the presence of mobile charged particles called ions.
When a substance dissolves in water and releases these ions, it helps in conducting electricity through the solution.
Electrolytes, like salt (NaCl), dissolve in water and split into sodium (Na+) and chloride (Cl-) ions.
These free ions move around in the solution and carry the electric current.
On the other hand, nonelectrolytes, such as sugar, dissolve but do not release ions. Therefore, they do not conduct electricity.
The degree of conductivity in a solution relies on the quantity and movement of these ions. More ions and higher mobility mean better conductivity.

Dissociation into Ions

Dissociation into ions is the process where an electrolyte separates into its component ions when dissolved in water. These ions are charged particles that are crucial for electrical conduction.
Take table salt (NaCl) as an example. When it dissolves in water, it dissociates into sodium ions (Na+) and chloride ions (Cl-).
This dissociation significantly influences the solution's ability to conduct electricity.
Different substances dissociate to various extents. Strong electrolytes, like NaCl, almost completely dissociate into ions in water. This makes them excellent conductors of electricity.
Weak electrolytes, like acetic acid (CH3COOH), only partially dissociate, producing fewer ions. Thus, they conduct electricity poorly compared to strong electrolytes.
Nonelectrolytes, as mentioned before, do not dissociate into ions at all, resulting in no conductivity.

Electric Current

An electric current is a stream of charged particles, such as electrons or ions, moving through a conductive medium.
In the context of solutions, this current is usually carried by ions moving through water.
When an electrolyte dissolves in water, the dissociated ions move freely and allow for the passage of electric current.
The positive ions (cations) and negative ions (anions) move in opposite directions towards the respective electrodes, enabling the current to flow.
The strength of the electric current in a solution depends on the concentration of ions and their mobility. More ions and higher mobility result in a stronger current.
For nonelectrolytes, since they do not produce ions, they cannot support an electric current in a solution.
Understanding these basic principles helps in comprehending why some solutions conduct electricity while others do not.