in regards to conductivityhow is a substance/solute classified as strong, weak or nonelectrolyte
A non-electrolytes conducts no electricity.
A strong electrolyte conducts electricity very well.
A weak electrolyte conducts electricity between the other two.
I should point out that some salts are not very soluble; therefore, they could be strong electrolytes but not very soluble.
The classification of a substance or solute as a strong, weak, or non-electrolyte is determined by its ability to conduct electricity in a solution. To understand this, we need to know the concept of electrolytes.
Electrolytes are substances that dissociate into ions when dissolved in water or melted. These ions are capable of conducting electric current. The classification of a substance as a strong, weak, or non-electrolyte is based on its degree of ionization or dissociation in the solution.
1. Strong Electrolytes: These substances ionize completely in solution, meaning they break down into ions and conduct electricity very well. Examples of strong electrolytes include strong acids (e.g., hydrochloric acid (HCl), sulfuric acid (H2SO4)), strong bases (e.g., sodium hydroxide (NaOH), potassium hydroxide (KOH)), and soluble ionic compounds (e.g., sodium chloride (NaCl), potassium nitrate (KNO3)). In solutions containing strong electrolytes, the ions are abundant, leading to a high conductivity.
2. Weak Electrolytes: These substances only partially ionize or dissociate in solution, resulting in a lower conductivity compared to strong electrolytes. Weak electrolytes include weak acids (e.g., acetic acid (CH3COOH), carbonic acid (H2CO3)), weak bases (e.g., ammonia (NH3)), and less soluble ionic compounds.
3. Non-electrolytes: These substances do not ionize or dissociate in water, meaning they do not produce ions and do not conduct electricity. Non-electrolytes consist of molecular compounds such as sugar (C12H22O11), ethanol (C2H5OH), and most organic compounds.
To determine the classification of a substance as a strong, weak, or non-electrolyte, you can perform an experiment called conductivity testing. By measuring the ability of a solution to conduct electricity using a conductivity meter or by observing whether a bulb in a conductivity apparatus glows, you can identify the substance's conductivity and subsequently classify it as a strong, weak, or non-electrolyte based on the observed results.