physical process accompanying the dissolution of an ionic compound in which the compound’s constituent ions are solvated and dispersed throughout the solution

substance that produces ions when dissolved in water

ion-dipole attraction

electrostatic attraction between an ion and a polar molecule

substance that does not produce ions when dissolved in water

substance that dissociates or ionizes completely when dissolved in water

substance that ionizes only partially when dissolved in water

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Chemistry 2e · 11.2 Electrolytes

Electrolytes: practice problems

4 problems from the book, with its answers. Check your working, or have any of them explained to you on the whiteboard.

Exercises 9
Explain why the ions Na⁺ and Cl⁻ are strongly solvated in water but not in hexane, a solvent composed of nonpolar molecules.
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Exercises 11
Consider the solutions presented:
(a) Which of the following sketches best represents the ions in a solution of Fe(NO₃)₃(aq)?
(b) Write a balanced chemical equation showing the products of the dissolution of Fe(NO₃)₃.
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Exercises 13
What is the expected electrical conductivity of the following solutions?
(a) NaOH(aq)
(b) HCl(aq)
(c) C₆H₁₂O₆(aq) (glucose)
(d) NH₃(aq)
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Exercises 15
Indicate the most important type of intermolecular attraction responsible for solvation in each of the following solutions:
(a) the solutions in Figure 11.7
(b) methanol, CH₃OH, dissolved in ethanol, C₂H₅OH
(c) methane, CH₄, dissolved in benzene, C₆H₆
(d) the polar halocarbon CF₂Cl₂ dissolved in the polar halocarbon CF₂ClCFCl₂
(e) O₂(l) in N₂(l)
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Key terms · 6

dissociation: physical process accompanying the dissolution of an ionic compound in which the compound’s constituent ions are solvated and dispersed throughout the solution
electrolyte: substance that produces ions when dissolved in water
ion-dipole attraction: electrostatic attraction between an ion and a polar molecule
nonelectrolyte: substance that does not produce ions when dissolved in water
strong electrolyte: substance that dissociates or ionizes completely when dissolved in water
weak electrolyte: substance that ionizes only partially when dissolved in water

Learn 11.2 on the whiteboard

The tutor teaches the whole section, drawing it out step by step and answering your questions as you go.

Read 11.2 in the textbook · This section on openstax.org

Electrolytes: practice problems

4 problems from the book, with its answers. Check your working, or have any of them explained to you on the whiteboard.

Exercises 9

Explain why the ions Na⁺ and Cl⁻ are strongly solvated in water but not in hexane, a solvent composed of nonpolar molecules.

Exercises 11

Consider the solutions presented:

(a) Which of the following sketches best represents the ions in a solution of Fe(NO₃)₃(aq)?

In this figure, three beakers labeled x, y, and z are shown containing various arrangements of blue and red spheres suspended in solution. In beaker x, three small red spheres surround a single central blue sphere in small clusters which in turn are grouped in threes around a single red sphere, forming four larger clusters. In beaker y, the four large clusters are present without the central red spheres. Four individual red spheres are now present. In beaker z, the large clusters are not present. Twelve of the small clusters of three red and one blue sphere are present along with four single red spheres.

(b) Write a balanced chemical equation showing the products of the dissolution of Fe(NO₃)₃.

Exercises 13

What is the expected electrical conductivity of the following solutions?

(a) NaOH(aq)

(b) HCl(aq)

(d) NH₃(aq)

Exercises 15

Indicate the most important type of intermolecular attraction responsible for solvation in each of the following solutions:

(a) the solutions in Figure 11.7

(b) methanol, CH₃OH, dissolved in ethanol, C₂H₅OH

(d) the polar halocarbon CF₂Cl₂ dissolved in the polar halocarbon CF₂ClCFCl₂

(e) O₂(l) in N₂(l)

Key terms · 6

dissociation: physical process accompanying the dissolution of an ionic compound in which the compound’s constituent ions are solvated and dispersed throughout the solution
electrolyte: substance that produces ions when dissolved in water
ion-dipole attraction: electrostatic attraction between an ion and a polar molecule
nonelectrolyte: substance that does not produce ions when dissolved in water
strong electrolyte: substance that dissociates or ionizes completely when dissolved in water
weak electrolyte: substance that ionizes only partially when dissolved in water

Learn 11.2 on the whiteboard

The tutor teaches the whole section, drawing it out step by step and answering your questions as you go.

Read 11.2 in the textbook · This section on openstax.org