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Chapter 15: Problem 16

Determine whether each of the following substances is an electrolyte or a nonelectrolyte. All are mixed with water. (a) \(\mathrm{C}_{6} \mathrm{H}_{12} \mathrm{O}_{6}\) (glucose) (d) \(\mathrm{LiOH}\) (b) \(\mathrm{P}_{2} \mathrm{O}_{5}\) (e) \(\mathrm{C}_{2} \mathrm{H}_{5} \mathrm{OH}\) (ethyl alcohol) (c) \(\mathrm{NaClO}\) (f) \(\mathrm{KMnO}_{4}\)

Short Answer

Expert verified
Glucose and ethyl alcohol are nonelectrolytes. \(\bbox[border: 1px solid black; pad: 2px]{\mathrm{P_{2}O_5}}}\) is a weak electrolyte. \(\bbox[border: 1px solid black; pad: 2px]{\mathrm{NaClO}}}\), \(\bbox[border: 1px solid black; pad: 2px]{\mathrm{LiOH}}}\), and \(\bbox[border: 1px solid black; pad: 2px]{\mathrm{KMnO_{4}}}\) are strong electrolytes.

Step by step solution

01

- Understanding Electrolytes

Electrolytes are substances that dissociate into ions when dissolved in water, conducting electricity. Nonelectrolytes do not dissociate into ions.
02

- Analyzing \(\bbox[border: 1px solid black; pad: 2px]{\mathrm{C_{6}H_{12}O_{6}}}\) (glucose)

Glucose is a molecular compound and does not dissociate into ions in water. Therefore, glucose is a nonelectrolyte.
03

- Analyzing \(\bbox[border: 1px solid black; pad: 2px]{\mathrm{P_{2}O_{5}}}\)

Phosphorus pentoxide reacts with water to form phosphoric acid \(H_3PO_4\), which dissociates partially in water. Thus, \(\bbox[border: 1px solid black; pad: 2px]{\mathrm{P_{2}O_{5}}}\) is considered a weak electrolyte.
04

- Analyzing \(\bbox[border: 1px solid black; pad: 2px]{\mathrm{NaClO}}\)

Sodium hypochlorite is an ionic compound that dissociates fully into \(Na^+\) and \(ClO^-\) ions in water, making it a strong electrolyte.
05

- Analyzing \(\bbox[border: 1px solid black; pad: 2px]{\mathrm{LiOH}}\)

Lithium hydroxide is an ionic compound and a strong base that dissociates completely in water to yield \(Li^+\) and \(OH^-\) ions. Thus, it is a strong electrolyte.
06

- Analyzing \(\bbox[border: 1px solid black; pad: 2px]{\mathrm{C_{2}H_{5}OH}}\) (ethyl alcohol)

Ethyl alcohol (ethanol) is a molecular compound that does not dissociate into ions in water. Therefore, it is a nonelectrolyte.
07

- Analyzing \(\bbox[border: 1px solid black; pad: 2px]{\mathrm{KMnO_{4}}}\)

Potassium permanganate is an ionic compound that dissociates completely into \(K^+\) and \(MnO_4^-\) ions in water. Thus, it is a strong electrolyte.

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Key Concepts

These are the key concepts you need to understand to accurately answer the question.

Chemical Dissociation
When substances dissolve in water, they can split into smaller particles in a process called chemical dissociation. This is crucial for understanding electrolytes. Substances that dissociate into ions in water are called electrolytes. These ions can move freely, allowing the solution to conduct electricity. However, substances that do not split into ions are called nonelectrolytes. They do not conduct electricity in solution. For example, when sodium chloride (table salt) dissolves in water, it dissociates into sodium (Na+) and chloride ions (ClO-), making the solution an electrolyte.
Ionic Compounds
Ionic compounds consist of positive and negative ions held together by strong electrostatic forces. When these compounds dissolve in water, they dissociate into their constituent ions. For example, sodium hypochlorite (NaClO), lithium hydroxide (LiOH), and potassium permanganate (KMnO4) all dissociate into ions in water. This makes them strong electrolytes. These ions are responsible for the solution's ability to conduct electricity. The complete dissociation of these compounds is why they are classified as strong electrolytes.
Molecular Compounds
Molecular compounds are made up of molecules formed by covalent bonds between atoms. Unlike ionic compounds, molecular compounds usually do not dissociate into ions in water. This means they do not conduct electricity in solution. For instance, glucose (C6H12O6) and ethyl alcohol (C2H5OH) are molecular compounds. When these substances dissolve in water, they simply disperse as intact molecules, making them nonelectrolytes.
Conductivity in Solutions
Electrical conductivity in solutions depends on the presence of free-moving ions. If a substance dissolves in water and releases ions, the solution can conduct electricity. This is why ionic compounds like NaClO, LiOH, and KMnO4 are good conductors when dissolved in water. Conversely, if a substance does not release ions, like glucose or ethyl alcohol, the solution will not conduct electricity. The degree of dissociation into ions determines whether a substance is a strong or weak electrolyte, or a nonelectrolyte.

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Most popular questions from this chapter

Write the reaction of hydrochloric acid with the active metal magnesium.

Calculate the pH of solutions having the following \(\left[\mathrm{H}^{+}\right]\): (a) \(0.35 \mathrm{M}\) (b) \(1.75 \mathrm{M}\) (c) \(2.0 \times 10^{-5} \mathrm{M}\)

Determine how many milliliters of \(0.525 \mathrm{M} \mathrm{HClO}_{4}\) will be required to neutralize \(50.25 \mathrm{~g} \mathrm{Ca}(\mathrm{OH})_{2}\) according to the reaction: $$ 2 \mathrm{HClO}_{4}(a q)+\mathrm{Ca}(\mathrm{OH})_{2}(s) \longrightarrow \mathrm{Ca}\left(\mathrm{ClO}_{4}\right)_{2}(a q)+2 \mathrm{H}_{2} \mathrm{O}(l) $$

What volume of \(\mathrm{H}_{2}\) gas, measured at \(27^{\circ} \mathrm{C}\) and 700 . torr, can be obtained by reacting \(5.00 \mathrm{~g}\) of zinc metal with \(200 . \mathrm{mL}\) of \(0.350\) \(M \mathrm{HCl}\) ? The equation is $$ \mathrm{Zn}(s)+2 \mathrm{HCl}(a q) \longrightarrow \mathrm{ZnCl}_{2}(a q)+\mathrm{H}_{2}(g) $$

Determine the molarity of each of the ions present in the following aqueous salt solutions: (assume \(100 \%\) ionization) (a) \(1.25 M \mathrm{CuBr}_{2}\) (b) \(0.75 \mathrm{M} \mathrm{NaHCO}_{3}\) (c) \(3.50 M \mathrm{~K}_{3} \mathrm{AsO}_{4}\) (d) \(0.65 M\left(\mathrm{NH}_{4}\right)_{2} \mathrm{SO}_{4}\)
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