High School
SAT
ACT
University
MCAT
LSAT
DAT
Wize University Chemistry Textbook > Chemical Reactions

Strong, Weak, and Non-Electrolytes

Net Ionic EquationsPrevious Section
TitrationsNext Section
Popular Courses
Find My Course
0:00 / 0:00

Electrical Conductivity of Aqueous Solutions


Electrical conductivity-refers to the ability to conduct electric current
  • Could have strong, weak, or non-electrolytes
  • Electrolytes are free ions in solution!

PAGE BREAK


Strong Electrolytes-dissolve to give solutions that conduct electricity efficiently

Completely dissociate in solution
Examples: ionic compounds, strong acids, and strong bases


Example: HCl(aq) −> H(aq)+ + Cl(aq)−HCl_{\left(aq\right)}\ ->\ H_{\left(aq\right)}^+\ +\ Cl_{\left(aq\right)}^-
PAGE BREAK



Weak Electrolytes-dissolve to give solutions that don't conduct as much as strong electrolytes

Only produce few ions when they dissolve in water
Examples: Weak acids and weak bases (do not fully dissociate like strong acids and strong bases do, will see an equilibrium instead)


Example: NH3(aq)+H2O(l)⇋NH4(aq)+ + OH(aq)−NH_{3\left(aq\right)}+H_2O_{\left(l\right)}\leftrightharpoons NH_{4\left(aq\right)}^+\ +\ OH_{\left(aq\right)}^-
PAGE BREAK


Non-electrolytes-solutions that do not conduct electricity

Substances that dissolve in water but don't produce any ions

Example: Covalent compounds like CH3OH(aq)