Electrolytes and Non-electrolytes

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Electrolytes and Non-electrolytes

Published by: Nuru

Published date: 26 Jun 2021

Electrolytes and Non-electrolytes in Grade 12

Electrolytes and Non-electrolytes

Electrolytes and Non-electrolytes- Electrolytes are salts that ionize completely in solution and Non-electrolytes do not dissociate into ions in solution.

The state of the Ions of the electrolytes which are in equilibrium with the dissociated molecule of the electrolyte is called Ionic Equilibrium. It is the equilibrium established between the unionized molecules and the ions in a solution of weak electrolytes. pH is a measure of acidity or alkalinity of a solution.

Electrolytes:-

The chemical substances which split into ions when dissolved in water and conduct electricity either in a molten state or in an aqueous solution are called electrolytes. Electrolytes are salts or molecules that ionize completely in solution. For example NaCl, KOH, HCI, CuSO4, NaOH, etc.

Non-electrolytes:- 

The chemical substances which don’t split into ions when dissolved in water and don’t conduct electricity either in a molten state or in an aqueous solution are called non-electrolytes. Non-electrolytes do not dissociate into ions in solution. For example- Glucose solution, Benzen, Nitro Benzene, etc.

Types of electrolytes:- There are two types of electrolytes:-

  1. Strong electrolytes- The electrolytes which are almost completely ionized when dissolved in water are called strong Electrolytes. These ions are good conductors of electric current in the solution. Originally, a “strong electrolyte” was defined as a chemical that, when in an aqueous solution, is a good conductor of electricity. eg:- HCI, HNO3, NaOH, etc.
  2. Weak electrolytes- The electrolytes which are partially ionized when dissolved in water are called weak electrolytes. Weak electrolytes only partially ionize in water (usually 1% to 10%)Eg- H2S, NH4OH, Cu(OH)2, etc.

On the basis of the structure, electrolytes can be further classified into two types:-

  1. True electrolytes- The electrolytes which exist as ions in their pure form are called true electrolytes. Eg- all ionic compounds (NaCl, KCL, etc)
  2. Potential Electrolytes- The electrolytes which don’t exist as ions in their pure form but furnish ions when dissolving in water are called potential electrolytes. Eg- all polar covalent compounds.