Electrolyte and Nonelectrolyte Solutions

Electrolyte and Nonelectrolyte Solutions

Electrolyte solutions

Electrolyte is a salt or ionizable molecule which gives the ability for solution to conduct electricity when get dissolved. Its dissociated ions can move freely in solution allowing a charge to flow.

For example, when table salt, NaCl, is placed in water, the salt dissolves into its component ions, according to the dissociation reaction:

NaCl(s) → Na+(aq) + Cl−(aq)

• If a compound dissociates to a small extent, the solution will be a weak conductor of electricity.

• If a compound completely dissociates its component ions in solution, it will be strong conductor of electricity.

Non-electrolyte solutions

Nonelectrolytes are compounds that do not ionize in solutions and hence it will not conduct electricity.

For example, glucose (sugar) or C6H12O6 which readily dissolves in water but does not dissociate into ions in solution.

When substances are dissolved, ratio between the actual concentration of particles produced and the concentration of a substance as calculated from its mass is called as Van't Hoff factor