Question

Classify the following substances under three headings: strong electrolytes, weak electrolytes, and non-electrolytes.

Acetic acid, ammonium chloride, ammonium hydroxide, carbon tetrachloride, dilute hydrochloric acid, sodium acetate, dilute sulfuric acid

Answer 1

Strong electrolytes

• Those electrolytes in which the molten or dissolved state, dissociates almost completely into ions and allows a large amount of electricity to pass through it are called Strong electrolytes.
• All strong acids and bases and salts of strong acids are strong electrolytes.

Strong electrolytes are as follows

Dilute hydrochloric acid $\left(\mathrm{HCl}\right)$, Ammonium chloride $\left({\mathrm{NH}}_4\mathrm{Cl}\right)$ (salt of hydrochloric acid), and dilute sulfuric acid $\left({\mathrm{H}}_2{\mathrm{SO}}_4\right)$.

Weak electrolytes

• Those electrolytes in which the molten or dissolved state, dissociates only to a minimal extent and allow only, a very small amount of electricity to pass through it are called Weak electrolytes.
• All weak acids and bases and salts of weak acids are weak electrolytes.

Weak electrolytes are as follows

Acetic acid $\left({\mathrm{CH}}_3\mathrm{COOH}\right)$, Ammonium hydroxide $\left({\mathrm{NH}}_4\mathrm{OH}\right)$, sodium acetate $\left({\mathrm{CH}}_3\mathrm{COONa}\right)$ (salt of acetic acid).

Non-electrolytes

• The substances which do not allow an electric current to pass through their aqueous solutions are called non-electrolytes.

Non-electrolyte is as follows:

• Carbon tetrachloride $\left({\mathrm{CCl}}_4\right)$
• It is non-electrolyte as the four chlorine atoms are bonded covalently to the carbon atom and the whole molecule has zero dipole moment due to which it becomes a nonpolar molecule and thus, a non-electrolyte.