Question

1) Give definitions for electrolyte, non-electrolyte and discuss the major difference between these two compounds. Give an example for each type 2) Discuss the difference between strong electrolyte and weak electrolyte. Give examples of compounds for each type. 3) Give chemical equation that illustrates how calcium chloride dissolves in water? (For example, dissolving sodium chloride in water you may write it as: NaCl(s) --> Na+ (aq) + Cl- (aq)). 4) Classify these compounds as either strong electrolyte, weak electrolyte and non-electrolyte CaCl2 HNO3 C2H5OH КОН C6H1206

Answer 1

1) An electrolyte is a substance that can ionize in water and conducts electricity.

Example: Sodium chloride (NaCl), Potassium hydroxide (KOH) etc.,

Non-electrolyte: A substance that do not ionize in water and do not conduct electricity

Example : Urea(H₂N-CO-NH₂), Glucose (C₆H₁₂O₆) etc.,

Electrolytes are good conductors of electricity in either molten state or aqueous solution and they readily undergo ionization in water whereas non-electrolytes are not conductors because they do not undergo ionization.

2) Strong electrolyte: A substance that ionizes almost completely in water are said to be strong electrolytes

Example: NaCl, NH₄Cl, KOH etc

Weak electrolyte: A substance that do not ionizes completely (partly ionizes) in water are said to be weak electrolytes

Example: HCN, NH₄OH etc

3) When Calcium chloride is dissolved in water it ionizes as follows

CaCl2(s) ---------------> Ca2+(aq) + 2Cl-(aq)

4) Strong electrolyte: CaCl2, HNO3, KOH

Weak electrolyte : C2H5OH

Non-electrolyte: C6H12O6