SMA PRADITA DIRGANTARA

CHEMISTRY EXPERIMENT CHAPTER 8

ELECTROLYTE AND NON-ELECTROLYTE BEHAVIOR

Introduction.
You will observe the conductivity of several pure substances and of aqueous solutions
formed from a number of substances. You will decide, based on the observed conductivity,
if a substance is a strong electrolyte, a weak electrolyte or a nonelectrolyte. You will use
observed changes in conductivity as a way to monitor the progress of a chemical reaction
and to predict the products of the reaction.

Theoritical Framework
Electricity can be viewed as a flow of charged particles, like electrons or ions. Very few
pure substances, even ionic compounds, conduct electricity. However, several types of
substances conduct electricity when they are dissolved in water to make an aqueous
solution. These substances are called electrolytes and include acids, bases and salts (ionic
compounds).
Salts and metal hydroxide bases already have ions present. Those ions separate, or
dissociate, from one another as the solid salt dissolves.

Ba(OH)2 (s) Ba(OH)2 (aq) Ba2+ (aq) + 2 OH¯ (aq)

Molecular acids and bases consist of neutral molecules when pure. However, during
dissolving, certain covalent bonds break to create ions. Thus electrolytes release free ions
into the solvent. Those ions are free to move about in the solution and to carry current
through the solution. Electrolytes are classed by how many ions they release into the
solution. Some substances are 100% dissociated in solution; they are strong electrolytes.
Soluble ionic compounds and a few acids like hydrochloric, nitric and sulfuric acids are
strong electrolytes.

HCl (aq) H+ (aq) + Cl¯ (aq)

Other substances release only a few ions into solution with the bulk of the substance
remaining associated; these are weak electrolytes. All slightly soluble salts and many
molecular acids and bases (except the strong ones) are weak electrolytes.

HC2H3O2 (aq) H+ (aq) + C2H3O2¯ (aq)

Nonelectrolytes are compounds that do not ionize at all in solution. As a result, solutions
containing nonelectrolytes will not conduct electricity. Typically, nonelectrolytes are
primarily held together by covalent rather than ionic bonds. A common example of a
nonelectrolyte is glucose, or C6H12O6. Glucose (sugar) readily dissolves in water, but
because it does not dissociate into ions in solution, it is considered a nonelectrolyte;
solutions containing glucose do not conduct electricity.

C6H12O6 (aq)
You are going to demonstrate conductivity, using an apparatus consisting of electrodes that
are placed into the test sample and a light bulb that lights only if electrical current can pass
through the substance being tested. The light bulb may shine brightly if there are many
ions free to carry a lot of current or it may light only dimly if there are few ions available
to conduct. In fact, it may not light up at all if there are almost no ions free to conduct
electricity. Based on the behavior of the light bulb, you will classify the substance being
tested as a strong electrolyte, a weak electrolyte or a nonelectrolyte. Alternatively –
students may use individual conductivity meters that are connected to batteries. By
observing the light bulb, you will see evidence that a chemical change is occurring, and
you can predict the identity of the products based on their electrolyte nature.

Equipments and Materials

- Equipments
Beaker glass 100 mL (6 items)
Electrolyte test pack (1 item)
Battery 1,5V (2 items)
Light bulb (Lamp) 1,5 V (1 item)
- Materials
Sodium chloride solution 1M 100 mL
Sulfuric acid solution 1M 100 mL
Acetic acid solution 1M 100 mL
Glucose solution 1M 100 mL
Tap water 100 mL
Ethanol 100 mL

Procedure
1. Set all equipments refer to the following figure :

2. Observe the brightness of the light bulb and bubble in electrodes as you insert the test
apparatus into each test sample. Decide if the bulb is bright, dim or not lit at all and
the existence of the bubbles in electrodes. Record your observations and conclusions.

3. Observe and record the brightness of the light bulb when testing each solutions. Be
alert to small gradual changes in the bulb’s light output. Write a brief explanation of
these changes. Write the complete balanced equation for the reaction that takes place.
Safety

Wear your safety goggles during the demonstration.

Do not touch the electrodes at any time. Do not plug in or unplug the conductivity
apparatus yourself. If you touch both electrodes at the same time while the apparatus is
plugged in, a severe electrical shock may result.

Svante Arrhenius, in the 1880’s , determined with great

precision that ions contained charges which were specific
for each element in solution, and varied between elements
in exact multiples.
So – Mg always had precisely the amount of positive
charge as Na, etc.
The Theory of Ionization contributed to the
understanding of the true nature of electric charge.
He also investigated kinetics and developed the formula
for the energy of activation in reactions, and proposed
that meteorites could have carried simple life forms to
start life on Earth.

Acknowledgement

This experiment is conducted and supported by :

SMA Pradita Dirgantara; teacher of chemistry subject, Doni Wahyu Prabowo, S.Pd.;
and chief of chemistry laboratory, Joko Susilo, M.Sc.
EXPERIMENT CHAPTER 8: REPORT
ELECTROLYTE AND NON-ELECTROLYTE BEHAVIOR
Name :

Electrolyte Behavior
Sample Substance Conductivity (bright, Bubble (exist or none)
# dim or none)
1 Sodium chloride solution

2 Sulfuric acid solution

3 Acetic acid solution

4 Glucose solution

5 Tap water

6 Ethanol
EXPERIMENT CHAPTER 8: REPORT
QUESTION.

1. Conclude what is strong electrolyte, weak electrolyte and non-electrolyte.

2. Determine subtansces used in experiments which include strong electrolyte, weak

electrolyte or non-electrolyte.

3. Mention other substances include strong electrolyte, weak electrolyte and non-electrolyte.
(Min. 3)