Conductance of electrolytic solution

( ions act as conductor in electrolytic solution)

Electrolytes:- these are the substance which allow the electricity to follow
through them in their molten state or in the form of their aqueous solutions and
undergo chemical decomposition .
Eg:-NaCl, HCl, HCN, CH3COOH.
Classification of electrolyte:-
A. Strong electrolyte :- the electrolytes which almost completely dissociated
into ion in solution are known as strong electrolyte.
Eg:- NaCl, K2SO4, NaOH…..

B. Weak electrolyte:- the electrolyte which dissociates partially are known as

weak electrolyte.
Eg:- HCN, CH3COOH, …..

Factor effecting conductivity of solution

The conductivity of electrolytic (ionic) solutions depends on:
(i) the nature of the electrolyte added
(ii) size of the ions produced and their solvation
(iii) the nature of the solvent and its viscosity
(iv) concentration of the electrolyte
(v) temperature (it increases with the increase of temperature)
Resistance:- R

Resistivity :-
Resistivity is the resistance of conductor of 1cm length with area of cross section
equal to 1cm2.

Unit of resistivity= ohm-cm

Conductance(G) of metallic conductor:- It is reciprocal of resistance.

Unit :- ohm-1or mho or siemens (S)

Conductivity of metallic conductor:- (k)= it is the reciprocal of resistivity.

Unit of conductivity:- ohm-1cm-1.

Measurement of conductivity of electrolytic solution:-
Conductance of electrolyte can be measured by using conductivity cell
Conductivity cell:-

it consists of two platinum electrodes coated with platinum black . These have
area of cross section equal to ‘A’ and are separated by distance ‘l’. Therefore,
solution confined between these electrodes in a column of length l and area of
cross section A.
The resistance of such a column of solution is then given by the equation:

Cell constant (G*)

Unit of cell constant = cm-1

A= is the area of cross section of platinum electrode
L= distance between two Pt- electrode.
Measurement of resistance of electrolytic solution using wheat stone bridge

Relation between resistance(R), conductance (G) and cell constant(G *).

q.
Resistance of a conductivity cell filled with 0.1 mol L–1 KCl solution is 100 Ω. If the
resistance of the same cell when filled with 0.02 mol L–1 KCl solution is 520 Ω,
calculate the conductivity and molar conductivity of 0.02 mol L–1 KCl solution. The
conductivity of 0.1 mol L–1 KCl solution is 1.29 S/m.
Conductivity of solution :- (K)
The conductivity of a solution at any given concentration is the conductance of
one unit volume of solution kept between two platinum electrodes with unit area
of cross section and separated at a distance of unit length.

Variation of Conductivity with Concentration:-

i. Effect of dilution on conductivity:-
Conductivity always decreases with decrease in concentration both, for
weak and strong electrolytes.
Because number of ions per unit volume that carry the current in a
solution decreases on dilution hence conductivity of both strong and
week electrolyte decreases.

ii. If concentration of electrolytic solution increase :-

Conductivity increases with increase in concentration both, for weak and
strong electrolytes.
Because number of ions per unit volume that carry the current in a
solution increase on increase in concentration of solution hence
conductivity of both strong and week electrolyte increases.
Molar conductivity:- Λ m
Molar conductivity can be defined as the conductance of the electrolytic solution
kept between the electrodes of a conductivity cell at unit distance but having area
of cross section large enough to accommodate sufficient volume of solution that
contains one mole of the electrolyte.

Derivation of molar conductivity Λ m

Conductance of one mole of ion present in V volume of solution, present between
two Pt-electrode at unit length is known as molar conductivity.
If concentaration of solution is expressed as C molar.
C molar means c moles of ions( solute) present in 1dm3 (1L) of solution.

Unit of molar conductivity= Scm2mole-1

Variation of Molar Conductivity with Concentration :-
Effect of dilution on molar conductance:-
For strong electrolyte:- for strong electrolyte there is no increase in the number
of ions with dilution because strong electrolytes are completely ionized in all
concentration .
However, in concentrated solution of strong electrolytes there are strong force of
attraction between oppositely charged ions. due to this interionic force
conductivity of ion is less.
With dilution volume of solution increases, distance between ion increases, inter
ionic force decreases, as a result molar conductivity increases staidly with respect
to dilution .
For week electrolyte
Weak electrolyte dissociates partially at higher concentration. At higher
concentration its conductivity is low.
On dilution , degree of dissociation of weak electrolyte increases(no of ions in
solution increases) , volume of solution increases as a result molar conductivity
increases .
There is sudden increase in molar conductivity occurs on dilution for weak
electrolyte..

Limiting molar conductivity (Λ m0)

When concentration approaches zero, the molar conductivity is known as limiting
molar conductivity.
Kohlrausch law of independent migration of ions. The law states that limiting
molar conductivity of an electrolyte can be represented as the sum of the
individual contributions of the anion and cation of the electrolyte.
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