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The best conductor of electricity is a \(0.1 \mathrm{M}\) solution of (a) \(\mathrm{H}_{2} \mathrm{SO}_{4}\) (b) \(\mathrm{CH}_{3} \mathrm{COOH}\) (c) \(\mathrm{CH}_{3} \mathrm{CH}_{2} \mathrm{COOH}\) (d) boric acid

Short Answer

Expert verified
The best conductor is (a) \( \mathrm{H}_{2} \mathrm{SO}_{4} \).

Step by step solution

01

Understanding Conductivity

Conductivity in solutions is primarily determined by the presence of ions. The more ions present in the solution, the higher the electrical conductivity. Strong acids and bases almost completely dissociate into ions, making them good conductors.
02

Analyze Each Option

- (a) \ \( \mathrm{H}_{2} \mathrm{SO}_{4} \) is a strong acid, which dissociates completely into \( \mathrm{H}^+ \) and \( \mathrm{HSO}_4^- \), and \( \mathrm{HSO}_4^- \) can further dissociate into \( \mathrm{H}^+ \) and \( \mathrm{SO}_4^{2-} \).- (b) \(\mathrm{CH}_3\mathrm{COOH}\) is a weak acid and only partially dissociates, producing fewer ions.- (c) \(\mathrm{CH}_3\mathrm{CH}_2\mathrm{COOH}\) is also a weak acid with partial dissociation.- (d) Boric acid is a weak acid that does not dissociate much in water and therefore conducts electricity poorly.
03

Determine the Best Conductor

From the analysis in Step 2, we know that \( \mathrm{H}_{2} \mathrm{SO}_{4} \) dissociates completely, leading to a higher concentration of ions in the solution compared to \(\mathrm{CH}_3\mathrm{COOH}\), \(\mathrm{CH}_3\mathrm{CH}_2\mathrm{COOH}\), and boric acid. Therefore, \( \mathrm{H}_{2} \mathrm{SO}_{4} \) is the best conductor of electricity among these options.

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Key Concepts

These are the key concepts you need to understand to accurately answer the question.

Strong Acids
When we talk about strong acids, we鈥檙e referring to acids that can completely dissociate into ions when dissolved in water. This means almost every molecule of the strong acid separates into hydrogen ions (H鈦) and its corresponding anions. This complete dissociation is what makes strong acids excellent conductors of electricity. One classic example of a strong acid is sulfuric acid ( \( \mathrm{H}_{2} \mathrm{SO}_{4} \) ). Sulfuric acid dissociates in water to form \( \mathrm{H}^+ \) and \( \mathrm{HSO}_4^- \) ions, and the \( \mathrm{HSO}_4^- \) can further dissociate into \( \mathrm{H}^+ \) coupled with \( \mathrm{SO}_4^{2-} \) ions. Each of these dissociation steps increases the number of ions in solution, enhancing its ability to conduct electricity effectively. The abundance of ions present allows electricity to flow through the solution more readily, making it an excellent electrical conductor.
Weak Acids
Weak acids are substances that only partially dissociate in water, meaning only some of the acid molecules ionize to form hydrogen ions and anions. This partial dissociation results in fewer ions, which reduces their ability to conduct electricity. Unlike strong acids, weak acids remain largely in their molecular form when dissolved.Acetic acid ( \( \mathrm{CH}_3\mathrm{COOH} \) ) and propionic acid ( \( \mathrm{CH}_3\mathrm{CH}_2\mathrm{COOH} \) ) are common examples of weak acids. They each produce a limited number of ions when in solution. As a result, these weak acids are less efficient at conducting electricity. Additionally, boric acid is another weak acid often used in this context, which also doesn鈥檛 dissociate much in water and therefore isn鈥檛 a good conductor. Weak acids play a critical role in chemical reactions where a slow release of ions is preferable, but they are not ideal when high electrical conductivity is required.
Ion Dissociation
Ion dissociation is the process where an ionic compound dissolves in water and separates into its component ions. This process is essential for understanding electrical conductivity, as it directly influences the number of free-moving ions available in a solution. For strong acids, like sulfuric acid, dissociation is nearly complete. This means that the number of ions generated in the solution is high, thus enhancing conductivity significantly. In contrast, weak acids display limited dissociation. With fewer ions formed, solutions of weak acids are poorer electrical conductors. This concept is crucial not only in solving problems related to conductivity but also in predicting how a solution will behave under various conditions. Understanding how much an acid will dissociate helps to anticipate the strength and efficiency of its conductivity, which plays a vital role in many industrial and scientific applications.
Electrical Conductivity
Electrical conductivity in solutions is all about the presence and mobility of ions. A solution's conductivity is directly proportional to the concentration of ions. More ions provide more paths for electric charge, allowing electricity to move more freely through the solution. Strong acids, which dissociate completely, create a high concentration of ions, making their solutions great conductors. On the other hand, weak acids have limited ions, and thus, they do not facilitate electrical flow as efficiently. In practical applications, understanding electrical conductivity is important for processes like electrolysis or any system where automated control of ionic flow is needed. This understanding empowers chemists and engineers to select the right substances and conditions required for achieving desired outcomes, leveraging different levels of conductivity based on the dissociation properties of various acids.

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Most popular questions from this chapter

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