Which of the following is a nonelectrolyte?
A) H 2 SO 4 (sulfuric acid)
B) HCL (hydrochloric acid)
C) C 3 H 8 (propane gas)
D) NaCl (table salt)
To determine which of the following substances is a nonelectrolyte, we need to understand the concept of electrolytes and nonelectrolytes.
An electrolyte is a substance that, when dissolved in water, produces ions that can conduct electricity. These ions result from the dissociation of the compound into positively charged ions (cations) and negatively charged ions (anions). In contrast, a nonelectrolyte does not produce ions when dissolved in water and does not conduct electricity.
Now, let's evaluate the options:
A) H2SO4 (sulfuric acid) - Sulfuric acid is a strong acid that dissociates almost completely in water, producing H+ and SO4^2- ions. Therefore, it is an electrolyte.
B) HCl (hydrochloric acid) - Hydrochloric acid is also a strong acid that dissociates completely in water, producing H+ and Cl- ions. Consequently, it is an electrolyte.
C) C3H8 (propane gas) - Propane gas is a covalent compound composed of carbon and hydrogen atoms. Covalent compounds generally do not dissociate into ions when dissolved in water, so propane is a nonelectrolyte.
D) NaCl (table salt) - Sodium chloride is an ionic compound that dissociates in water into Na+ and Cl- ions. It is a strong electrolyte.
Based on the explanations given above, the answer is:
C) C3H8 (propane gas) is a nonelectrolyte.