Question

Examining the equations or equilibrium constants related to a salt, acid, or base is an indirect way to determine strength of an electrolyte. The strength of an electrolyte can be examined directly by implementing a solution into a circuit such that voltage or amount of current can be assessed. Although, conductivity refers to the flow of charged species, we usually examine conductivity with respect to the resistance. As the name implies, a solution that does not conduct electricity very well will have a very high resistance. If solutions containing various acids, bases, and salts were prepared and connected to a circuit that powers a light bulb, the strength of the electrolyte could be determined by examining the intensity of the light bulb. Complete the following sentences regarding the experimental determination of the electrolyte strength for various molecules.

Answer 1

The experimental set up is given as

power ----> solution ----> bulb

this forms a circuit

now consider the three cases

1) Strong electrolyte

In case of strong electrolyte , the solution will contain ions that conduct electricity

So the solution conducts electricity and passes it to the bulb

hence the circuit is complete

SO the bulb will glow

2) weak electrolyte

weak electrolyte also completes the circuit and the bulb will glow

but the intensity of th bulb is low as there are relatively a few number of conducting ions in it

3) non electrolyte

In case of electrolye , there will be no ions to conduct the electricity

as a result the solution will not pass the electricity ot the bulb

So the circuit is incomplete

As a result the bulb will not glow

SO

using the above information we get

A) there is a dim glow

So HF is a weak electrolyte

B)   the bulb did not glow

So 03 is a non electrolyte

C)   the bulb faintly flickers

So NH3 is a weak electrolyte

D)

the bulb produced a bright glow

SO KCl is a strong electrolyte

So

the final classification is

non electrolyte ----> 03

weak electrolyte ----> HF , NH3

strong electrolyte ----> KCl