Electrolyte Examples in Chemistry

Start with the recap, study the fully worked examples, then use the practice problems to check your understanding of Electrolyte.

This page combines explanation, solved examples, and follow-up practice so you can move from recognition to confident problem-solving in Chemistry.

Concept Recap

A substance that dissociates into free ions when dissolved in a solvent (typically water), producing a solution that can conduct electric current.

Salt dissolved in water breaks into charged particles (ions) that carry electric current.

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How to Use These Examples

Read the first worked example with the solution open so the structure is clear.
Try the practice problems before revealing each solution.
Use the related concepts and background knowledge badges if you feel stuck.

What to Focus On

Core idea: Electrolyte starts by identifying solute, solvent, amount, volume, and the concentration unit.

Common stuck point: Students often know a formula related to electrolyte but skip the recognition step: Am I tracking solute, solvent, total solution, concentration, dissolving, or dilution rather than just naming a mixture? That leads to a correct-looking substitution attached to the wrong chemical model.

Sense of Study hint: Ask: Am I tracking solute, solvent, total solution, concentration, dissolving, or dilution rather than just naming a mixture?

Worked Examples

Example 1

medium

Equal

0.10\text{ M}

solutions of

NaCl

CaCl_2

, and

AlCl_3

are prepared. Compare total ion concentrations.

Answer

[NaCl]_{ions}=0.20\text{ M}, [CaCl_2]_{ions}=0.30\text{ M}, [AlCl_3]_{ions}=0.40\text{ M}

First step

Count ions per formula unit: 2, 3, 4 respectively.

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Example 2

medium

Two solutions,

0.10\text{ M}

HCl

and

0.10\text{ M}

HF

, are tested in a conductivity meter. Which lights brighter and why?

Example 3

medium

0.10\text{ M}

solution of weak base

NH_3

1.3\%

ionized. Find

[OH^-]

Example 4

hard

0.20\text{ M}

solution of weak acid

HA

2.0\%

ionized. Find

[H^+]

and

K_a

Example 5

hard

0.10\text{ M}

solution of

HCN

has

K_a = 6.2\times 10^{-10}

. Estimate

[H^+]

and percent ionization.

Example 6

hard

Compare conductivities at equal

0.10\text{ M}

NaCl

CaCl_2

C_6H_{12}O_6

(glucose),

CH_3COOH

. Rank from highest to lowest.

Example 7

challenge

0.050\text{ M}

solution of weak acid

HA

4.0\%

ionized. After diluting to

0.010\text{ M}

, use

K_a

to predict the new percent ionization.

Practice Problems

Try these problems on your own first, then open the solution to compare your method.

Example 1

easy

Write the dissociation of

NaCl

in water.

Example 2

easy

Does pure sugar dissolved in water conduct electricity?

Example 3

easy

HCl

in water a strong or weak electrolyte?

Example 4

easy

Write the dissociation of

KBr

in water.

Example 5

easy

Does a strong electrolyte produce many or few ions in solution?

Example 6

easy

Is acetic acid (

CH_3COOH

) a strong or weak electrolyte?

Example 7

easy

Name the charged particles that carry current in an electrolyte solution.

Example 8

easy

Write the dissociation of

CaCl_2

in water.

Example 9

medium

How many moles of ions are produced when 1 mol of

Na_2SO_4

fully dissociates?

Example 10

medium

A 0.10 M solution of

MgCl_2

fully dissociates. What is the chloride ion concentration?

Example 11

medium

Rank by conductivity at equal concentration:

HCl

CH_3COOH

C_6H_{12}O_6

(glucose).

Example 12

medium

Why does a weak electrolyte conduct less than a strong one at the same concentration?

Example 13

medium

Write the ionization equilibrium of the weak acid

HF

in water.

Example 14

medium

Calculate total ion concentration when 0.050 mol

Al_2(SO_4)_3

dissolves in 1.0 L.

Example 15

medium

Is molten (liquid)

NaCl

an electrolyte even without water?

Example 16

medium

A 0.20 M solution of

K_2SO_4

fully dissociates. Find the potassium ion concentration.

Example 17

medium

Classify each as strong, weak, or non-electrolyte:

NaOH

NH_3

CH_3OH

(methanol).

Example 18

challenge

A 0.10 M weak acid

HA

is 1.5% ionized. Find

[H^+]

and the ratio of conducting ions to total dissolved

HA

Example 19

challenge

Equal 0.10 M volumes of

NaCl

and

CaCl_2

are compared. Which has higher total ion concentration and by what factor?

Example 20

challenge

A conductivity test on a weak base

B

(0.20 M, 2.0% ionized) is run. Find

[OH^-]

and explain why doubling concentration does not double percent ionization.

Example 21

easy

Write the dissociation of

KCl

in water.

Example 22

easy

Write the dissociation of

LiNO_3

in water.

Example 23

easy

Write the dissociation of

MgBr_2

in water.

Example 24

easy

Is solid

NaCl

(not dissolved) an electrolyte solution?

Example 25

medium

How many moles of ions form when 0.20 mol

AlCl_3

fully dissociates?

Example 26

medium

A 0.30 M solution of

Mg(NO_3)_2

fully dissociates. Find the nitrate concentration.

Example 27

medium

Write the ionization equilibrium of acetic acid in water.

Example 28

medium

Calculate the total ion concentration when

0.040\text{ mol}

K_3PO_4

dissolves in

2.0\text{ L}

of water.

Example 29

medium

A 0.20 M solution of

Na_3PO_4

fully dissociates. What is

[Na^+]

Example 30

medium

True or false: a concentrated solution is always a strong electrolyte.

Example 31

medium

Write the equation for the partial ionization of nitrous acid (

HNO_2

) in water.

Example 32

medium

0.050\text{ M}

solution of

Ba(OH)_2

fully dissociates. Find

[OH^-]

Example 33

hard

Total ion concentration: a solution holds

0.10\text{ M}

NaCl

and

0.20\text{ M}

K_2SO_4

(both fully dissociated). Find the total

[\text{ions}]

Example 34

hard

A conductivity test fails on glacial (pure) acetic acid. Why, despite acetic acid being a weak electrolyte in water?

Example 35

hard

A student says that the salt

AgCl

is a non-electrolyte because

AgCl(s)

does not dissolve in water. Identify the misconception.

Example 36

hard

Pure water itself self-ionizes. Find

[H^+]

in pure water at

25\,^{\circ}\text{C}

using

K_w = 1.0\times 10^{-14}

Example 37

hard

A weak acid

HA

5.0\%

ionized at

0.10\text{ M}

. Predict whether percent ionization rises or falls when diluted to

0.010\text{ M}

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Related Concepts

Ion Ionic Bond Solution Redox Reaction Electrochemistry

Background Knowledge

These ideas may be useful before you work through the harder examples.

ionionic bondsolution