Question

Differentiate between.

(a) Strong electrolytes and weak electrolytes

Answer 1

The differences between strong electrolytes and weak electrolytes are as follows

Strong Electrolytes	Weak Electrolytes
Those electrolytes which in the molten or dissolved state dissociate into ions completely and allow a large quantity of electricity to pass through them are called strong electrolytes.	Those electrolytes which in the molten or dissolved state dissociate to a minimal extent only and allow a very small amount of electricity to pass through them are called weak electrolytes.
Examples are: Aqueous Hydrochloric acid $\left(\mathrm{HCl}\right)$, Sodium chloride $\left(\mathrm{NaCl}\right)$, Potassium chloride $\left(\mathrm{KCl}\right)$, etc. Dissociation of Sodium chloride is shown as: $\mathrm{NaCl}\left(\mathrm{aq}\right)\rightleftharpoons {\mathrm{Na}}^{+}\left(\mathrm{aq}\right)+{\mathrm{Cl}}^{-}\left(\mathrm{aq}\right)$	Examples are: Acetic acid $\left({\mathrm{CH}}_3\mathrm{COOH}\right)$, Ammonium hydroxide $\left({\mathrm{NH}}_4\mathrm{OH}\right)$, etc. Dissociation of Acetic acid can be shown as: ${\mathrm{CH}}_3\mathrm{COOH}\left(\mathrm{aq}\right)\rightleftharpoons {\mathrm{CH}}_3{\mathrm{COO}}^{-}\left(\mathrm{aq}\right)+{\mathrm{H}}^{+}\left(\mathrm{aq}\right)$
All strong acids, bases, and salts of strong acids are strong electrolytes.	All weak acids, bases, and salts of weak acids are weak electrolytes.