Which of the following are the characteristics of an electrolyte?a)It ...
The characteristic of an electrolyte is that it should be able to form positive and negative ions.
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Which of the following are the characteristics of an electrolyte?a)It ...
Characteristics of an electrolyte:
An electrolyte is a substance that conducts electricity when dissolved in water or melted. It undergoes a process called electrolysis, where it breaks down into positive and negative ions.
Formation of positive and negative ions:
- When an electrolyte dissolves in water, its molecules break apart into ions. These ions can be positively charged (cations) or negatively charged (anions).
- For example, when table salt (sodium chloride) is dissolved in water, it dissociates into sodium ions (Na+) and chloride ions (Cl-).
Conducting charge:
- The presence of positive and negative ions in an electrolyte allows it to conduct electric current.
- When an electric potential is applied across the electrolyte, the positive ions move towards the negative electrode (cathode), and the negative ions move towards the positive electrode (anode).
- This movement of ions allows the flow of electric charge through the electrolyte.
Positive and negative charge:
- An electrolyte does not inherently have a positive or negative charge. However, it forms positive and negative ions when dissolved in a solvent like water.
- The positive charge comes from the cations, which are formed by the loss of electrons from the electrolyte molecule.
- The negative charge comes from the anions, which are formed by the gain of electrons by the electrolyte molecule.
Concluding remarks:
The correct characteristic of an electrolyte is that it forms positive and negative ions. This property allows the electrolyte to conduct electric current when dissolved in water or melted. The formation of ions is a result of the dissociation of the electrolyte into its constituent particles. By applying an electric potential, the positive and negative ions can move towards the respective electrodes, enabling the flow of electric charge through the electrolyte solution.
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