Electrolytes
Electrolytes form ions in water and conduct electricity.
About this topic
Electrolytes are substances that produce ions when dissolved in water, allowing the solution to conduct electricity. Strong electrolytes, such as NaCl, HCl and NaOH, dissociate or ionise completely; weak electrolytes, such as acetic acid and ammonia, only partly ionise; nonelectrolytes, such as sugar and ethanol, do not form ions at all.
Conduction requires mobile charged particles. In a solution of an ionic compound, water molecules pull the lattice apart: NaCl(s) gives Na+(aq) + Cl-(aq). Molecular compounds like HCl react with water to form ions. The more ions per volume, the higher the conductivity, which is why strong electrolytes at the same concentration conduct better than weak ones. Pure distilled water is a very poor conductor because it has few ions. A light bulb conductivity tester shows these differences clearly: bright with salt solution, dim with vinegar, and off with sugar water.
In your body, electrolytes such as sodium, potassium and calcium carry nerve impulses and control muscle contraction and fluid balance, so sports drinks replace them after heavy sweating. Batteries use electrolytes to carry charge between electrodes.
A misconception is that electrons flow through the solution; it is ions that carry current in solution. Another is that tap water is a nonconductor; it contains dissolved minerals, so do not use electrical devices near water.
Key ideas
- Strong electrolytes dissociate fully
- Weak electrolytes partly
- Non-electrolytes none
Quick check
Use cases: where Electrolytes helps
- Homework: review the key idea behind Electrolytes before you start a problem set.
- Exam revision: use the quick check to test whether you can recall Electrolytes without notes.
- Visual learning: play with the interactive lab to see how Electrolytes changes when you adjust its inputs.
- Teaching a friend: explain Electrolytes in your own words, then compare your version with the key ideas.
Chemistry explains medicine, food, cleaning products, fuels and building materials.
Frequently asked questions
What is Electrolytes?
Electrolytes form ions in water and conduct electricity.
What will I learn in Electrolytes?
Strong electrolytes dissociate fully. Weak electrolytes partly. Non-electrolytes none.
Is Electrolytes part of Chemistry?
Yes. It is one of 150 Chemistry topics on LearnViz HighSchoolEdu, with 3 key ideas, a live animation and a quick check.
Does the Electrolytes lab work on a phone or tablet?
Yes. The animation resizes to fit your screen and supports touch, so you can drag, tap and slide with your finger.
How should I study Electrolytes?
Read the summary and key ideas first, play with the interactive lab to see the idea in motion, then answer the quick check. If you get a question wrong, go back to the key idea it tests.
Do I need an account, and is my progress saved?
No account is needed. Marking a topic as learned is saved in your own browser, so it stays on that device and is not sent to a server.