Question

Define strong and weak electrolytes?

Answer 1

Electrolyte:

• An electrolyte is a substance that dissociates into its ion in its aqueous solution.
• Positively charged ions are called cations.
• Negatively charged ions are called anions.
• Electrolytes are good conductors of electricity due to the flow of ions.
• Example: NaCl (Sodium chloride), HCl (Hydrogen chloride), NaOH (Sodium hydroxide), CH₃COOH (Acetic acid), NH₄OH (Ammonium hydroxide), etc.

Types of electrolytes: There are two types of electrolytes which are mentioned below.

(I) Strong electrolytes:

• Strong electrolytes are those electrolytes that dissociate or are ionized completely in their aqueous solution.
• These electrolytes have high electrical conductivity with a higher extension of ionization.
• For example, NaCl, HCl, NaOH, etc.

(ii) Weak electrolytes:

• Weak electrolytes are those electrolytes that do not dissociate or ionized completely in their aqueous solution.
• These electrolytes have low electrical conductivity with a lesser extension of ionization.
• For example, CH₃COOH, NH₄OH, etc.