CREATED BY

NAME :
1. AYU HANDAYANI F (05)
2. PUSPITA SULISTYORINI (23)

Class X MIA 1
Senior High School 3 Pati

Project: Chemistry
Electrolyte and nonelectrolyte
solutions
Contents
A. Electrolyte and Nonelectrolyte
Learning Objectives
After studying this chapter, students are
expected to be able :
B. Explain the difference between
electrolyte and nonelectrolyte based on
their electrical conductivity solution

CONCEPT MAP
Solution conducts
electricity

Solution does not

conducts electricity

Understanding electrolyte and nonelectrolyte

solutions is important to learn what really happens
in the chemical reactions that take place in
solution-as most of these reaction involve ions.
In this chapter the discussion will cover
electrolyte and nonelectrolyte, and a glimpse of
their roles in chemistry.

A. Electrolyte and
Nonelectrolyte
Inspiring Scientist
Based on their ability to conduct electricity in solution,
substances, or solutes, that dissolve in water, solvent can be
distinguished into electrolytes and nonelectrolytes. Electrolyte
conduct electricity in their solutions while nonelectrolytes do not.
It was Svante August Arrhenius who, in 1884, was able to
explain the phenomenon of electrical conductivity of these
substances. According to Arrhenius, electrolytes in water are
separated or dissociated into charged particles, or ions, thus they
allow electric current to pass. Nonelectrolytes on the other hand
do not form ions so no current is attained.

-Electrolyte is substance that can form ions

in its solvent, thus the solution conducts
electricity. Such a solution is called
electrolyte solution.
-Nonelectrolyte is substance that cannot
form ions in its solvent thus the solution
cannot conduct electricity. Such a solution is
called nonelectrolyte solution.

The mechanism of electolytes in their solutions can

conduct electricity is related to the presence of ions in the
solutions, as pointed out by arrhenius. As explained in chapter
3, water is polar covalent compounds that can dissolve plar
subtances, i.E. Ionic compounds such us nacl, and polar
covalent compound such us CH3COOH and C12H22O11 . when
the subtance is dissolved, the water molecules that contain
partial charges of + and - will surround the surface of the
subtance.
The + chargein the wate molecules will attract the
negative charge in the substance and the - charge in the
water molecules will attract the positive charge in the
substance. If the attraction force between the water molecules
of the water substance is strong enough, the particles of the
substance can separate forming free ions. The formation of ion
from ionic compounds such as nacl is also called dissociation,
while the formation of ions from molecules of polar covalent
compounds such as CH3COOH is called ionization.

Strong electrolytes and weak electroytes

Electrolytes such as nacl undergo complete/almost complete
ionization/dissociation in water and form solutions with good
electrical conductivity. Such electrolytes are called strong
electolytes.
On the other hand, electrolyte like CH3COOH undergo
particial ionization/dissociaton in water and form solutions with
poor electrical conductivity. Such electrolytes are called weak
electrolytes.
The strength of electrolytes in their sulution can be
expressed quantitativaly by their degree of
ionization/dissociation,
= Moles of substance that are
ionization/dissaciation
Moles of substance dissolve in water

STRONG ELECTROLYTES

WEAK ELECTROLYTES

NONELECTROLYTES

Table : Examples of strong electrolytes, weak electrolytes, and nonelectrolytes in

water solvent
Type of solute
(in water solvent)

Examples

Strong
electrolyte

- Ionic compounds
- Polar covalent
compounds that are
fully/almost fully
ionized

Acid, based, and salts :

-Acids : HCl, Hl, HBr, HNO3 , HClO4 ,H2
SO4
- Based : NaOH, KOH, Ca(OH)2 ,
Ba(OH)2
- Salts : NaCl, CaSO4, KNO3 , CH3
COONa, AgCl

Weak
electrolyte

-Polar covalent
compounds that are
partially ionized
- Few ionic
compounds

Acids, bases, salts compounds :

-Acids : H2S, HCN, H2CO3, CH3COOH
(acetic acid), CHOOH (formic acid),
C6H5OH (benzonic acid)
- Bases : NH3, N2H4, CH3NH2
(methylamine)
- Salts : haladine/ cyanide/
thiocyanate salt of Hg, Zn, Cd.

Nonelectrolyte

- Polar covalent
compounds that
cannot be ionizide

Compounds other than acid, base, and

salt :
-Ethanol, C2H5OH

Equivalents
An equivalent (Eq) is the amount of that ion equal
to 1 mole of positive or negative electrical charge (+
or ). For example:
-1 mole of Na+ ions and 1 mole of Cl
ions are each 1 equivalent or 1000 milliequivalents
(mEq) because they each contain 1 mole of charge,
and
-ions with a charge of 2+ or 2, contain 2
equivalents for each mole
1 mole of Na+ = 1 equivalent
1 mole of Cl
= 1 equivalent
1 mole of Ca2+ = 2 equivalents
1 mole of Fe3+
= 3 equivalents

How does electricity flow in a circuit ?

Electricity is the movement of electrically charged particles. In solid
substances, such as metal wires, the charge particles are electrons.
However,
in electrolyte solutions, the charged particles are ions.
To understand the movement of ions in a solution, take a look at the
circuit. In the circuit, a power source is connected to an electrolyte
solution of
HCl using graphite electrodes. Electrons coming from the negative
terminal of
the battery will flow towards the electrode. Thus, the electrode will have
the
negative charge or become the catode. This causes the other
electrode to
have positive charge, or become the anode.

--The H+ ions te solution willmove towards the cathode,

absorbing electrons and forming H2 gas.
Cathode : h+(aq) + e- h(g)
2h+(aq) + 2e- h2(g)
--The cl- ions the solution will move towards the anode,
releasing electrons and forming cl2 gas. The electrons
absorbed by the anode will be forwardes back to the positive
terminal of the battery, and then to the negative terminal.
Anode : cl- cl + e2cl-(aq) cl2(g) + 2eif the two reactions are put together, the following is obtained :
cathode : 2h+(aq) + 2e- h2(g)
anode
: 2cl-(aq) cl2(g) + 2e
overall
: 2h+(aq) + 2cl-(aq) h2(g) + cl2(g)
in conclution, electric current in the circuitgiven inchem lab is a
follow :
a. In the outer circuit (wire), the electric current is the
movement of elctrons.
B. In the inner circuit (electrolyte solution), the electric current
is the
movement of ions.

Chem in-Depth
Electrical conductivity of ionic compounds and polar covalent
componds in solid, liquid/molten, and solution

Electrolyte in form of ionic compounds not only conduct

electricity in its solution, but also in a liquid phase. This is
due to
the fact that in liquid phase, the ions can move freely. On the
other
hand, electrolytes in the form of the polar covalent
compounds can
conduct electricity only in a solution, not in a liquid phase.
This is
because in such a phase, the compound is still composed of
molecules, not ions.

Table : A comparison of electrical

conductivity.
Type of
Compound

Solid

Liquid/Molten

Solution (in
water solvent)

Ionic
compounds

Dont conduct
electricity
because the ions
in solids have
limited
movement

Conduct electricity
because the ions in
theliquid phase can
move much more
freely that the ions in
solids

Conduct
electricity
because the ions
in solution
cannot move
freely

Polar
covalent
compounds

Dont conduct
electricity
because the
solids are
composed of
neutral
molecules,
although its
polar.

Dont conduct
electricity because
although the
molecules can move
more freely, they are
neutral.

Conduct
electricity
because in
solution,
molecules can
be hydrolyzed
and form free
ions.