Question

Can conductivity alone be used to compare the conductance of
1) different metallic conductor
2) different electrolytic conductor?

Answer 1

Dear student,

Conduction in metals is due to flow of free electrons and doesn't involves any chemical change. It depends upon conductivity of material which is dependent on nature of metal used. Hence conductivity of different metals can be used to compare the conductance of different metals.

Electrolytic conduction is due to flow of ion and involves chemical change.
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Factors affecting conductance of electrolytic conductor are:

• Nature of the electrolyte: The strength and composition of a substance largely impact the degree of conduction that can take place through the substance.
• Size of the ion produced and their salvation: The size of an ion within a substance also impacts the degree of disassociation that takes place in a substance. Hence, salvation properties impact their conduction.
• Nature of the solvent and its viscosity: The nature of a solvent and its density also impacts the ability of the substance to allow conduction through it.
• Concentration of the solution: The density and strength of a solution cast an impact on the conduction properties of a substance.
• Temperature: Conduction is highly susceptible to increase or decrease under the influence of the temperature of a given substance. On the other hand, conduction in metallic and electronic substance is affected by the nature and type of the metal, the number of valence electrons per atom and the temperature of the substance

Only conductivity cannot be used to compare conductance of different electrolytic conductors.

Regards!