Experiment 21 • Conductivity

net ionic equation

a chemical equation that portrays an ionic reaction after spectator ions have been cancelled from the total ionic equation

total ionic bond

a chemical equation that portrays highly ionized substances in the ionic form and slightly ionized substances in the nonionized form

strong electrolyte

an aqueous solution that is a good conductor of electricity and produces a bright glow from a light bulb in a conductivity apparatus

weak electrolyte

an aqueous solution that is a good conductor of electricity and produces a dim glow from a light bulb in a conductivity apparatus

Why is calcium carbonate a weak electrolyte while calcium chloride is a strong electrolyte?

calcium carbonate is a weak electrolyte because it is solid while calcium chloride is strong because it is aqueous

Why is solid sodium chloride a weak electrolyte while aqueous NaCl is a strong electrolyte?

ions in solid NaCl cannot move freely

spectator ions

ions in the aqueous solution that do not participate in a reaction and do not appear in the net ionic equation

Why are aqueous solutions of HC2H3O2 and NH4OH weak electrolytes individually but a strong electrolyte after they are added together?

ions that are weak electrolyte become strong electrolytes when combined

Why is distilled water a weaker conductor than tap water?

it contains less pure ions

Why are aqueous solutions of H2SO4 and Ba(OH)2 strong electrolytes individually but a weak electrolyte after they are added together?

strong ions that are combined result to weaker ions for its conductivity does not double or become one but separate

ionization

the process of a polar molecular compound dissolving in water and forming positive and negative ions

dissociation

the process of an ionic compound dissolving in water and separating into positive and negative ions