Strong electrolyte

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A strong electrolyte is a solute that completely, or almost completely, ionizes or dissociates in a solution. These ions are good conductors of electric current in the solution.

Originally, a "strong electrolyte" was defined as a chemical that, when in aqueous solution, is a good conductor of electricity. With greater understanding of the properties of ions in solution its definition was replaced by the present one.

A concentrated solution of this strong electrolyte has a lower vapor pressure than that of pure water at the same temperature. Strong acids, strong bases, and soluble ionic salts that are not weak acids or weak bases are strong electrolytes. In addition all molecular compounds are strong electrolytes.

Writing reactions

For strong electrolytes, a single reaction arrow shows that the reaction occurs completely in one direction, in contrast to the dissociation of weak electrolytes, which both ionize and re-bond in significant quantities.[1]

Strong electrolyte(aq) → Cation+(aq) + Anion-(aq)

Strong electrolytes conduct electricity only when molten or in aqueous solutions. Strong electrolytes break apart into ions completely.

The stronger an electrolyte the greater the voltage produced when used in a galvanic cell.

Examples of Strong Electrolytes

Strong Acids

Strong Bases

Salts

See also

References

  1. ↑ Brown, Theodore L. Chemistry: The Central Science, 9th edition.


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