Post Lab: Electrolytes
Mar 26, 2015
Electrolytes
Are substances that form positive(+)
and negative (-) ions in water
Conduct an electric current
Electrolytes in the Body
Carry messages sent to and from the
brain as electrical signals
Maintain cellular function with the correct
concentrations electrolytes
• Electric current : flow of charged particles.
• One type of current is electrons flowing through a wire, from cathode (negative electrode) to anode (positive electrode).
Conduction Illustrated
• Another type of current: anions and cations moving through a solution Cations move to the cathode, anions move to the anode.
• External source of potential (voltage) is required in both cases!
Drop of CaCl2 (aq) LED
Resistor 330 Ω (ohms)
– Strong electrolytes include:
– Strong acids (all acids begin with H)
– Ex: HCl, HBr, HI, HNO3, H2SO4, HClO4)
Is it a strong electrolyte, a weak electrolyte, or a nonelectrolyte?
– Strong bases (bases end in –OH (Hydroxide)– (IA and IIA hydroxides)– Ex: NaOH, Ca(OH)2, KOH, Ba(OH)2
– Soluble Salts (Most water-soluble ionic compounds) Ex: metal – nonmetal (NaCl)
metal - polyatomic ion (Na2SO4 )
Strong Electrolytes are 100% ionized
salts H2O 100%ions
NaCl(s) Na+(aq) + Cl-(aq)
H2O
CaBr2(s) Ca2+(aq) + 2Br- (aq)
acids H2O
HCl(g) H3O+(aq) + Cl-(aq)
Bases H2O NaOH(s) Na+(aq) + OH-(aq)
Weak electrolytes
Most of the solute exists as molecules in solution
Only a few solute particles produce ions
HF + H2O H3O+(aq) + F- (aq)
acid
NH3 + H2O NH4+(aq) + OH- (aq)
base
Nonelectrolytes
Dissolve as molecules only
No ions are produced in water
Do not conduct an electric current
H2O
C6H12O6 (s) C6H12O6
(aq)
glucose
• Electrolytes dissociate to produce ions.
Electrolytic Properties
of Aqueous Solutions
The more the electrolyte dissociates, the more ions it produces.
• Dissolving Polar Covalent Compounds
Some dissolve only as molecules
EX: Sucrose
Timberlake, Page 239
Dissolves but does
not dissociate into ions
Observations coming up
• Substance tested
• Scale (0-4)
• Conductivity ( low, medium, high, none)
• Strong, Weak or Non-Electrolyte
• Classification of Electrolyte (acid/base, Ionic salt, alcohol, covalent organic molecule
1 C3H7OHPropanol
O None Non-electrolyte Large organic molecule
2 KCl (aq)Potassium Chloride
4 Very high strong Soluble
Ionic salt
3 H2SO4 (aq)Sulfuric Acid
4 Very High strong Strong acid
4 H2ODeionized water
1 Low weak Weak acid /base
5 Na2SO4 (aq)Sodium sulfate
4 Very High strong Soluble
Ionic salt
6 HCl (aq)Hydrochloric Acid
4 Very High strong Strong acid
7 NaOH (aq)Sodium Hydroxide
3 High strong Strong base
8 C2H5OH2
Ethanol O None Non-electrolyte Large organic
molecule
(alcohol)
9 H2O
Tap water
3 High strong Acid/base
10 HC2H3O2
Acetic Acid1 Low-2 Medium
weak Weak organic acid
Ionic equations for each electrolyte
1. C3H7OH
2. KCl (aq) K+(aq) + Cl-(aq)
3. H2SO4 (aq) 2H+(aq) + SO42-(aq)
4. Deionized H2O(l) H+(aq) + OH-(aq)
5. Na2SO4 (aq) 2Na+(aq) + SO42-(aq)
6. HCl(aq) H+(aq) + Cl-(aq)
7. NaOH(aq) Na+(aq) + OH-( aq)
8. C2H5OH2
9. Tap H2O(l) H+(aq) + OH-(aq)
10. HC2H3O2 (aq) H+(aq) + C2H3O2- (aq)
Questions for Analysis1. Some substances conduct electricity
because of the ions present. Those substances that do not dissociate into ions do not conduct electricity.
Electrolytes=dissociate to produce ions
Non-Electrolytes do not have ions to dissociate
2. Could any of these substances conduct electricity in the solid form? Explain
None of the substances can conduct electricity in the solid form .
EX: Ionic compound. When a salt is in a molten state / dissolved in water, the ions can move and carry the electric current.
in SOLID STATE= the ions cannot move, so the current cannot flow.
COVALENT COMPOUNDS (non metal bonded with non metal), the outer shell electrons are used up to form the covalent bonds. thus, there are no free electrons to conduct electricity. (examples include diamond, PURE water etc)
METALS: metals have free electrons which allow them to conduct electricity in both solid and molten state.
EX: Copper,steel,water,plasma and most metals conduct electricity in solid form
3. Explain some possible reasons for a high conductivity measurement in a freshwater sample from a lake, stream or pond.
High concentration of ions (unusual anions and cations)
Nutrients
(e.g., phosphorus, nitrogen, carbon, silicon, calcium, potassium, magnesium, sulfur, sodium, chloride, iron) are primarily transported to ponds and lakes via streamflow, surface runoff and groundwater,
ConclusionConclusionAn electrolyte is a compound that, in aqueous solution,
conducts electricity. As liquids: salts, bases. When aq: salts, acids, bases. When ions are present it can conduct electricity.
ex> HCl(aq): H+(aq) + Cl –(aq) NaOH(aq): Na+(aq) + OH–(aq)
CuSO4(aq): Cu2+(aq) + SO42–(aq)
Nonelectrolytes do not conduct electricity. They do not ionize and therefore have no moveable ions.
Acid: a compound that ionizes in water to form hydrogen ions.
Base: an ionic hydroxide that dissociates in water to produce hydroxide ions
A strong electrolyte has a greater percentage ionization (most molecules are converted to ions).. Weak have a few ions and more molecules so they conduct electricity at a lesser percentage.
Ionization
Dissociation
Conclusion thoughtsConclusion thoughtsDissociation occurs when a (ionic) compound breaks
into its ions in water. Ionization occurs when a neutral atom or molecule is converted into an ion (e.g. by water). Ionic compounds and bases dissociate. Acids ionize.
+Cl HH
HO
+H
HH O Cl+
+Cl NaH
HO
H
HO Cl+ + Na
+