Understanding Electrolytes

Oct 13, 2025 by talynt.org 130 views

In chemistry, an electrolyte is a substance that produces an electrically conducting solution when dissolved in a polar solvent, such as water. Electrolytes can be classified into three main categories: strong, weak, and non-electrolytes. In this article, we will determine the type of electrolyte for each of the given aqueous solutions.

Understanding Electrolytes

An electrolyte is a substance that dissociates into ions when dissolved in a polar solvent, such as water. The ions produced by the electrolyte are responsible for the electrically conducting properties of the solution. Electrolytes can be classified into three main categories based on their ability to dissociate into ions:

Strong Electrolytes: These are electrolytes that completely dissociate into ions when dissolved in a polar solvent. Strong electrolytes produce a high concentration of ions in solution, resulting in a high electrical conductivity.
Weak Electrolytes: These are electrolytes that only partially dissociate into ions when dissolved in a polar solvent. Weak electrolytes produce a low concentration of ions in solution, resulting in a low electrical conductivity.
Non-Electrolytes: These are substances that do not dissociate into ions when dissolved in a polar solvent. Non-electrolytes do not produce any ions in solution and therefore do not conduct electricity.

Determining the Type of Electrolyte

To determine the type of electrolyte for each of the given aqueous solutions, we need to consider the properties of the substances involved. We will examine the chemical formulas of each substance and determine whether they are strong, weak, or non-electrolytes.

1. $$FeCl_3$$ (ionic)

FeCl_3$$ is an ionic compound composed of iron (III) chloride. When dissolved in water, $$FeCl_3$$ dissociates into iron (III) ions and chloride ions. Since $$FeCl_3$$ completely dissociates into ions, it is a strong electrolyte. ### 2. $$Al_2(SO_4)_3

Al_2(SO_4)_3$$ is an ionic compound composed of aluminum sulfate. When dissolved in water, $$Al_2(SO_4)_3$$ dissociates into aluminum ions and sulfate ions. Since $$Al_2(SO_4)_3$$ completely dissociates into ions, it is a strong electrolyte. ### 3. $$HMnO_4

HMnO_4$$ is a weak electrolyte composed of permanganic acid. When dissolved in water, $$HMnO_4$$ partially dissociates into hydrogen ions and permanganate ions. Since $$HMnO_4$$ only partially dissociates into ions, it is a weak electrolyte. ### 4. $$Sr(OH)_2$$ - strong $$Sr(OH)_2$$ is a strong electrolyte composed of strontium hydroxide. When dissolved in water, $$Sr(OH)_2$$ completely dissociates into strontium ions and hydroxide ions. Since $$Sr(OH)_2$$ completely dissociates into ions, it is a strong electrolyte. ### 5. $$H_2CrO_4

H_2CrO_4$$ is a weak electrolyte composed of chromic acid. When dissolved in water, $$H_2CrO_4$$ partially dissociates into hydrogen ions and chromate ions. Since $$H_2CrO_4$$ only partially dissociates into ions, it is a weak electrolyte. ### 6. $$H_2SO_4