Question

What is the difference in the passage of electric current through an electrolyte and through a metal wire?

Answer 1

Part 1: The flow of current:

Current in a conductor flows by the movement of the charged particle in the conductor.

Part 2: In metals:

1. In the case of metal wire, there are free electrons present as the charged particle. So current flows by the movement of free electrons.
2. Free electrons are the valence electrons of an element.
3. The metals which have more number of free electrons present with them are good conductors of electricity.
4. Example: $\mathrm{Ag},\mathrm{Cu},\mathrm{Al}$ etc.

Part 3: In electrolyte:

1. In the case of electrolytes, the charged particles are in form of cations and anions.
2. The flow of electricity in electrolytes takes place in the presence of active cations and anions in the solution.
3. In the case of strong electrolytes, the ions concentration is high so the electrical conductivity is high. E.g. $\mathrm{HCl},\mathrm{NaCl},{\mathrm{H}}_2{\mathrm{SO}}_4$ etc.
4. In the case of weak electrolytes, the ions concentration is low so electrical conductivity is low. E.g. ${\mathrm{HNO}}_2,{\mathrm{CH}}_3\mathrm{COOH}$ etc.