⚡Electrolyte vs Nonelectrolyte🚫
Whether a dissolved substance conducts electricity depends on if it forms ions. That decides electrolyte versus nonelectrolyte.
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⚡Electrolyte
- ✓Conducts electricity when dissolved or molten
- ✓Breaks into free-moving ions in water
- ✓Includes ionic compounds and strong acids
- ✓Strong or weak depending on ionization
- ✓Examples: salt, hydrochloric acid
🚫Nonelectrolyte
- ✓Does not conduct electricity in solution
- ✓Dissolves as neutral molecules, not ions
- ✓Usually covalent molecular compounds
- ✓No free charges to carry current
- ✓Examples: sugar, ethanol, glucose
Verdict
Electrolytes release ions and conduct electricity in solution, while nonelectrolytes dissolve as neutral molecules and do not. Ion formation is the deciding factor.
Frequently asked
Why does salt water conduct electricity?+
Salt is an electrolyte that splits into mobile ions able to carry current.
Is sugar water an electrolyte?+
No. Sugar dissolves as neutral molecules, so sugar water is a nonelectrolyte.
What is a weak electrolyte?+
A substance that only partially ionizes, so it conducts electricity weakly.
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