Textbook Question
Classify the solute represented in each of the following equations as a strong, weak, or nonelectrolyte:
a.
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Ch.9 Solutions
Timberlake14th EditionChemistry: An Introduction to General, Organic, and Biological ChemistryISBN: 9781292472249
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Table of contents
- Ch.1 Chemistry in Our Lives19
- Ch.2 Chemistry and Measurements80
- Ch.3 Matter and Energy53
- Ch.4 Atoms and Elements58
- Ch.5 Nuclear Chemistry42
- Ch.6 Ionic and Molecular Compounds57
- Ch.7 Chemical Quantities and Reactions38
- Ch.8 Gases30
- Ch.9 Solutions50
- Ch.10 Acids and Bases and Equilibrium64
- Ch.11 Introduction to Organic Chemistry: Hydrocarbons77
- Ch.12 Alcohols, Thiols, Ethers, Aldehydes, and Ketones82
- Ch.13 Carbohydrates54
- Ch.14 Carboxylic Acids, Esters, Amines, and Amides91
- Ch.15 Lipids61
- Ch.16 Amino Acids, Proteins, and Enzymes84
- Ch.17 Nucleic Acids and Protein Synthesis86
- Ch.18 Metabolic Pathways and ATP Production73
Timberlake14th EditionChemistry: An Introduction to General, Organic, and Biological ChemistryISBN: 9781292472249Not the one you use?Change textbook
Chapter 9, Problem 11a
Indicate whether aqueous solutions of each of the following solutes contain only ions, only molecules, or mostly molecules and a few ions:
a. acetic acid, HC2H3O2, a weak electrolyte
Verified step by step guidance1
Identify the type of compound: Acetic acid (HC₂H₃O₂) is a weak acid and a weak electrolyte. Weak electrolytes only partially ionize in water.
Understand the behavior of weak electrolytes in water: When acetic acid dissolves in water, it establishes an equilibrium between its molecular form (HC₂H₃O₂) and its ionized form (H⁺ and C₂H₃O₂⁻).
Write the chemical equilibrium equation for acetic acid in water: . This shows that only a small fraction of acetic acid molecules ionize.
Determine the predominant species: Since acetic acid is a weak electrolyte, most of the solute remains in the molecular form (HC₂H₃O₂), with only a small fraction existing as ions (H⁺ and C₂H₃O₂⁻).
Conclude the solution type: Aqueous solutions of acetic acid contain mostly molecules and a few ions due to its weak ionization in water.
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Key Concepts
Here are the essential concepts you must grasp in order to answer the question correctly.
Weak Electrolytes
Weak electrolytes are substances that partially dissociate into ions when dissolved in water. Unlike strong electrolytes, which completely ionize, weak electrolytes exist in equilibrium between their molecular form and their ionic form. This means that in a solution of a weak electrolyte, such as acetic acid, there will be a mixture of both ions and un-ionized molecules.
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Electrolytes (Simplified) Concept 2
Dissociation in Aqueous Solutions
Dissociation refers to the process by which a compound separates into its constituent ions in a solvent, typically water. In the case of weak electrolytes, the extent of dissociation is limited, resulting in a solution that contains both ions and undissociated molecules. Understanding the degree of dissociation is crucial for predicting the behavior of solutes in solution.
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Equilibrium in Chemical Reactions
Equilibrium in chemical reactions occurs when the rate of the forward reaction equals the rate of the reverse reaction, leading to constant concentrations of reactants and products. For weak electrolytes like acetic acid, this means that there is a dynamic balance between the dissociated ions and the undissociated molecules, which is essential for understanding the composition of the solution.
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Related Practice
Textbook Question
Indicate whether aqueous solutions of each of the following solutes contain only ions, only molecules, or mostly molecules and a few ions: c. fructose, C6H12O6, a nonelectrolyte
Textbook Question
Indicate whether aqueous solutions of each of the following solutes contain only ions, only molecules, or mostly molecules and a few ions:
b. NaBr, a strong electrolyte
Textbook Question
Write a balanced equation for the dissociation of each of the following strong electrolytes in water:
d. Fe(NO3)3
Textbook Question
KF is a strong electrolyte, and HF is a weak electrolyte. How is the solution of KF different from that of HF?
Textbook Question
Water is a polar solvent and carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) is a nonpolar solvent. In which solvent is each of the following, which is found or used in the body, more likely to be soluble?
d. cholesterol (lipid), nonpolar
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