Electrolytes & Nonelectrolytes

Electrolytes are substances that produce ions in solution. Substances can be categorized as strong electrolytes, weak electrolytes or nonelectrolytes. Strong Electrolytes Strong electrolytes are substances that only exist as ions in solution. Ionic compounds are typically strong electrolytes. Strong acids, strong bases and salts are strong electrolytes. When solid NaCl is placed in water, it completely dissociates to form Na+ and Cl- ions. Weak Electrolytes A weak electrolyte only partially dissociates in solution and produces relatively few ions. Polar covalent compounds are typically weak electrolytes. Weak acids and weak bases are weak electrolytes.
H2O CH3COOH(l) CH3COO- (aq) + H+(aq) H2O NaCl(s) Na+ (aq) + Cl-(aq)

Nonelectrolytes A nonelectrolyte does not dissociate at all in solution and therefore does not produce any ions. Nonelectrolytes are typically polar covalent substances that do dissolve in water as molecules instead of ions. Sugar (C12H22O11) is a good example of a nonelectrolyte.
H2O

C12H22O11 (s) C12H22O11 (aq) Examples of Electrolytes

Strong electrolyte Sea water Hydrochloric acid Sulphuric acid Aqueous copper sulphate Molten lead bromide Aqueous sodium chloride Nitric acid Aqueous potassium hydroxide Weak electrolyte Tap water Carbonic acid Acetic acid Ammonium hydroxide Citric acid Oxalic acid Non-electrolyte Chemically pure water Alcohol Kerosene Aqueous sugar solution Carbon disulphide

How to Distinguish Electrolytes from Nonelectrolytes

Electrolytes are substances that conduct electricity when dissolved in water. Nonelectrolytes are substances that dont conduct electricity when in these states. When an ionic compound such as sodium chloride is put into water, the water molecules attract both the cations and anions in the crystal and pull them into the solution (see the crystal shown in the figure). The cations and anions get distributed throughout the solution.

The crystal structure of sodium chloride.

You can detect the presence of these ions by using an instrument called a conductivity tester. A conductivity tester tests whether water solutions of various substances conduct electricity. Its composed of a light bulb with two electrodes attached. The light bulb is plugged into a wall outlet, but it doesnt light until some type of conductor (substance capable of transmitting electricity) between the electrodes completes the circuit. (A finger will complete the circuit, so this experiment should be done carefully.) When you place the electrodes in pure water, nothing happens, because theres no conductor between the electrodes. Pure water is a nonconductor. But if you put the electrodes in the NaCl solution, the light bulb lights, because the ions conduct the electricity (carry the electrons) from one electrode to the other. You dont even need the water. If you were to melt pure NaCl (it requires a lot of heat!) and then place the electrodes in it, youd find that the molten table salt also conducts electricity. In the molten state, the NaCl ions are free to move and carry electrons, just as they are in the saltwater solution. Scientists can get some good clues as to the type of bonding in a compound by discovering whether a substance is an electrolyte or a nonelectrolyte. Ionically bonded substances act as electrolytes. But covalently bonded compounds, in which no ions are present, are commonly nonelectrolytes. Table sugar, or sucrose, is a good example of a nonelectrolyte. You can dissolve sugar in water.

QUESTION:
List two electrolytes and two non-electrolytes. What characteristics give them the distinction of being electrolytes or non-electrolytes.