Electrolytes

and Non-
Electrolytes
 What is an electrolyte?

-a substance whose aqueous solutions con-

tain ions and hence conduct electricity.

-commonly exist as solutions of acids,

bases or salts. eg. table salt (NaCl)
 What is Non-electrolytes?
- a substance that does not form ions in
solution.

- Example:
Table sugar (sucrose)
 How they
differ?

One teaspoon One teaspoon

of table salt of table sugar
(NaCl) (sucrose)
One way, which might not be
immediately obvious is in electrical
conductivity:

The salt solution is a good conductor of

electricity, whereas the sugar solution is
not.
A non electrolytes
solution does not
contain ions, and
the bulb does not
light.
An electrolyte
solution contains
ion that serve as
charge carriers,
causing the bulb
to light.
 Ionic Compounds in Water
Dissociation of an ionic compound.
When an ionic compound dissolves in
water, H2O molecules separate,
surround, and disperse the ions into the
liquid
Ionic Compounds in Water
Molecular Compounds in Water

Glucose, a molecular compounds ,

dissolves without forming ions.
Categories of Electrolytes

Strong electrolytes

Weak electrolytes
 Strong Electrolytes
- a compound that when dissolved in water
will completely ionize or dissociate into
ions. This solution conducts electricity
well.
Strong electrolytes
If the solution
contains a large
number of ions,
the bulb will be
brightly lit;
 Weak Electrolytes

compound that when dissolved in water

only partially ionizes or dissociates into
ions. That is, the compound exists in
water as a mixture of individual ions and
intact molecules. This solution conducts
electricity weakly.
Weak electrolytes
If the solution
contains a small
number of ions,
the bulb will be
only dimly lit;
Why do acids, bases and salts all
conduct electricity?

Strong electrolytes conduct an electric

current because the positive ions can
accept electrons, and the negative ions
can donate electrons to complete the
circuit.
 When wires
connected to a
bulb and
battery are
placed into
sugar water,
the bulb does
not light. Sugar
is a non
Sugar solution electrolyte.
Aqueous
hydrochloric
acid lights the
bulb brightly.
Hydrochloric
acid is a strong
electrolyte.
Aqueous
sodium
hydroxide, a
strong
electrolyte,
lights the bulb
brightly.
 Monosodium
Glutamate
Solution is a
non-electrolyte,
the bulb does
not light.

MSG SOLUTION
Muriatic Acid is
a strong
electrolyte,
lights the bulb
brightly.
 Distilled Water
is a non-
electrolyte, the
bulb does not
light.

Distilled Water