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Understanding Electrolytes: Strong, Weak, and Nonelectrolytes, Summaries of Chemical Processes

A lab report from Bellevue College's CHEM& 161 class on electrolytes. It explains the concept of electrolytes, their role in the body, and their classification based on conductivity. The document also provides instructions for an experiment to determine the properties of strong, weak, and nonelectrolytes using a conductivity probe.

Typology: Summaries

2021/2022

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Bellevue College | CHEM& 161
Page 1 of 9
Electrolytes
Electrolytes are important in the body for proper function, nerve conduction. When the supply of
electrolytes in the body is depleted due to physical activity or illness, electrolyte solutions are
administered to restore a balance of electrolytes. Athletes choose to rehydrate with drinks
containing electrolytes, such as Gatorade. Pedialyte solutions are given to children. And, saline
solutions are used in medical situations to restore a balance of electrolytes in patients suffering
from various ailments.
Electrolytes are chemical substances that when dissolved in water yield solutions of charged
particles called ions. Some electrolytes dissociate (split apart) into the ions present in the original
substance. In contrast, some substances are electrolytes even though the substance does not
originally contain ions, but instead because ions are produced via chemical reactions when the
substance is dissolved in water.
Some electrolytes dissociate or ionize completely and are called strong electrolytes. In this case,
the chemical process or reaction is considered to proceed only in the forward direction to entirely
produce the product ions (the reaction has a high equilibrium constant).
strong electrolyte ions
Some chemical processes or reactions can occur in both a forward and a reverse direction
meaning that reactants produce products, but also products produce reactants (the reaction has a
low equilibrium constant). This scenario occurs with weak electrolytes and explains why
complete dissociation or ionization does not occur for these substances.
weak electrolyte ions
If a substance does not yield a solution of ions, it is a nonelectrolyte.
In this experiment, you will discover some properties of strong electrolytes, weak
electrolytes, and nonelectrolytes by observing the behavior of these substances in
aqueous solutions. You will determine these properties using a conductivity
probe. When the probe is placed in a solution that contains ions, and thus has the
ability to conduct electricity, an electrical circuit is completed across the
electrodes that are located on either side of the hole near the bottom of the probe
body (see Figure 1: Conductivity Probe). This results in a conductivity value
that can be read by the computer. The unit of conductivity used in this
experiment is the microsiemens per cm, or µS/cm.
You will use a vial containing the sample (instead of a beaker, as
shown). The contents of the vial will be reused by others, so it is
critical that contamination is prevented.
Make sure you rinse the probe between measurements with distilled
water (use a wash bottle). Set up a waste beaker at your station to
collect the rinses between readings. At the end of lab, you may dispose
of the contents of the waste beaker in the sink with plenty of extra water from the tap.
Figure 1: Conductivity Probe
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Bellevue College | CHEM& 161

Electrolytes

Electrolytes are important in the body for proper function, nerve conduction. When the supply of electrolytes in the body is depleted due to physical activity or illness, electrolyte solutions are administered to restore a balance of electrolytes. Athletes choose to rehydrate with drinks containing electrolytes, such as Gatorade. Pedialyte solutions are given to children. And, saline solutions are used in medical situations to restore a balance of electrolytes in patients suffering from various ailments.

Electrolytes are chemical substances that when dissolved in water yield solutions of charged particles called ions. Some electrolytes dissociate (split apart) into the ions present in the original substance. In contrast, some substances are electrolytes even though the substance does not originally contain ions, but instead because ions are produced via chemical reactions when the substance is dissolved in water.

Some electrolytes dissociate or ionize completely and are called strong electrolytes. In this case, the chemical process or reaction is considered to proceed only in the forward direction to entirely produce the product ions (the reaction has a high equilibrium constant).

strong electrolyte  ions

Some chemical processes or reactions can occur in both a forward and a reverse direction – meaning that reactants produce products, but also products produce reactants (the reaction has a low equilibrium constant). This scenario occurs with weak electrolytes and explains why complete dissociation or ionization does not occur for these substances.

weak electrolyte  ions

If a substance does not yield a solution of ions, it is a nonelectrolyte.

In this experiment, you will discover some properties of strong electrolytes, weak electrolytes, and nonelectrolytes by observing the behavior of these substances in aqueous solutions. You will determine these properties using a conductivity probe. When the probe is placed in a solution that contains ions, and thus has the ability to conduct electricity, an electrical circuit is completed across the electrodes that are located on either side of the hole near the bottom of the probe body (see Figure 1: Conductivity Probe). This results in a conductivity value that can be read by the computer. The unit of conductivity used in this experiment is the microsiemens per cm, or μS/cm.

You will use a vial containing the sample (instead of a beaker, as shown). The contents of the vial will be reused by others, so it is critical that contamination is prevented.

Make sure you rinse the probe between measurements with distilled water (use a wash bottle). Set up a waste beaker at your station to collect the rinses between readings. At the end of lab, you may dispose of the contents of the waste beaker in the sink with plenty of extra water from the tap.

Figure 1 : Conductivity Probe

Electrolytes Bellevue College | CHEM& 161

The size of the conductivity value depends on the ability of the aqueous solution to conduct electricity.

Strong electrolytes produce large numbers of ions, which results in higher conductivity values. Weak electrolytes result in lower conductivity values. Nonelectrolytes should result in relatively no conductivity.

In this experiment, you will observe several factors that determine whether or not a solution conducts, and if so, the relative magnitude of the conductivity. Thus, this simple experiment allows you to learn a great deal about different compounds and their resulting solutions.

Read the section in your textbook on electrolytes (search the index for page numbers).

HAZARDS

Obtain and wear goggles! CAUTION: Handle the solutions in this experiment with care. Do not allow them to contact your skin. Notify your teacher in the event of an accident.

PROCEDURE

  1. Prepare the computer to monitor conductivity. Turn on the laptop and connect the conductivity probe to the Logger Pro interface box. Flip the switch on the conductivity meter (black box) so that it is set to the 0-20,000 μS position.

  2. On the computer screen, open Logger Pro software. Open the file called Exp 13 Electrolytes by selecting File > Open > Chemistry with Vernier and then search for the file. The meter window will display live conductivity readings, in units of microsiemens (μS/cm). Make sure you are observing readings. If you are not, you have not selected the correct file.

  3. Observe the readings you obtain while the probe is in the air. This is the background conductivity. Record a value for the background conductivity in μS/cm. Comment on the precision of the conductivity meter. (Is the value constant or not? How many significant figures should be recorded? What would you estimate the +/- error to be for this device? You do not necessarily have to subtract this value from all subsequent readings, but keep this background reading in mind.

  4. There are 9 solutions provided, plus two samples you can obtain at your station; they are grouped into group A, B, or C. Please share with the class by only taking three at a time to your table. The solutions are all 0.05 M (same concentration) of: Group A: NaCl, CaCl 2 , AlCl 3 Group B: H 3 PO 4 , HC 2 H 3 O 2 (also written as CH 3 COOH), H 3 BO 3 , HCl Group C: C 2 H 6 O 2 CH 3 OH, tap H 2 O, distilled H 2 O. You should have a total of 11 samples. You may also test any samples you bring to class to test (e.g., cola, coffee, bottled water, vitamin water, etc…) Create a data table that is set up to record the solution group (A, B, C), the identity of the solution, and the corresponding conductivity value that you will measure.

Electrolytes Bellevue College | CHEM& 161

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Name ___________________________ Section ____ Bellevue College | CHEM& 161

REPORT SHEETS

Electrolytes

  1. a) Do Group A compounds appear to be relatively strong, weak, or nonelectrolytes, compared to Group B and C?

b) If they appear to be electrolytes, write a balanced equation for the dissociation of each of your Group A compounds. (Note: Chloride ion is a monatomic ion… use only Cl

  • , not Cl 2 2- or Cl 3 3- !) H 2 O ( l ) Example: LiCl ( s ) → Li

( aq ) + Cl

( aq )

c) Explain why there is some variation in conductivity within the Group A compounds. Can it be explained by the chemical equations you wrote above? Explain.

  1. a) Group B compounds are molecular acids. Is it correct to assume complete dissociation for all acids? Explain.

b) List the acids in Group B in order of increasing conductivity values (provide the values). Label them as “strong electrolytes”, “weak electrolytes” and “non-electrolyte” based on the values.

Bellevue College | CHEM& 161

  1. Examine Group C compounds. How do you explain their low conductivity values?
  2. What types of bonds are in the following compounds? (Circle ionic or covalent). Are these groups electrolytes or nonelectrolytes or both (circle your answer choices)? Type of Bond: Classification:

Group A ionic covalent electrolytes nonelectrolytes both

Group B ionic covalent electrolytes nonelectrolytes both

Group C ionic covalent electrolytes nonelectrolytes both

  1. You are advised not to use electrical applicances in the bath tub. Using concepts from this lab, explain why.
  2. Should CH 3 OH be considered a hydroxide (ionic compound) or an alcohol (molecular compound) based on its conductivity value? Circle your choice and explain.

Bellevue College | CHEM& 161

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