Which of the following compounds in the liquid phase can be considered an electrolyte?
a) CO 2 (carbon dioxide)
b) CuO (oxidized copper)
c) H2O ( distilled water)
d) H2O2 ( Hydrogen peroxide)
e) NaCI (sodium chloride)
NaCl is the only strong electrolyte listed.
To determine which of the compounds listed is an electrolyte in the liquid phase, we need to understand what an electrolyte is. An electrolyte is a substance that conducts electricity when dissolved or melted.
In this case, we need to consider each compound individually and assess its ability to dissociate into ions, which enables it to conduct electricity.
a) CO2 (carbon dioxide): Carbon dioxide does not dissociate into ions and therefore is not an electrolyte.
b) CuO (oxidized copper): Copper oxide does not readily dissociate into ions in the liquid phase, so it is not an electrolyte.
c) H2O (distilled water): Distilled water is a poor conductor of electricity due to its low ion concentration. However, it can still dissociate a small number of molecules into ions, making it a weak electrolyte.
d) H2O2 (hydrogen peroxide): Hydrogen peroxide is a covalent compound and does not readily dissociate into ions. Thus, it is not an electrolyte.
e) NaCl (sodium chloride): Sodium chloride readily dissociates into sodium ions (Na+) and chloride ions (Cl-) in the liquid phase. This dissociation allows the solution to conduct electricity, making NaCl a strong electrolyte.
Therefore, the compound that can be considered an electrolyte in the liquid phase among the options provided is e) NaCl (sodium chloride).