In chemistry and physics, an electrolyte is a substance that conducts electric current by dissociating into positively and negatively charged ions, which move toward and are discharged at the negative and positive terminals (cathode and anode) of an electric circuit, respectively. Many salts, like sodium chloride, act as electrolytes when they melt without any solvent. Some salts, like silver iodide, act as electrolytes even when they are solid, like when they are frozen.

Strong Electrolyte:

When dissolved in water, a strong electrolyte can completely dissociate into its ions. As a result, a strong electrolyte is a solute that dissolves entirely in water. Cations, or positively charged ions, and anions, or negatively charged ions, make up an electrolyte. In a solution, these ions can conduct an electric current.

Weak Electrolyte:

When dissolved in water, weak electrolytes partially break down into their ions. Cations and anions are found in weak electrolytes. When compared to strong electrolytes, these substances have a lower ionic nature. Weak acids, bases, and salts are common weak electrolytes.

1. Difference between Strong electrolyte and Weak electrolyte:

Common factors between strong and weak electrolytes:

Electrolytes are compounds that, when dissolved in water, separate into cations (positively charged ions) and anions (negatively charged ions) (minus-charged ions). We call it ionisation. Strong electrolytes ionise entirely (100 percent), whereas weak electrolytes only ionise partially (typically 1–10 percent). Between them, there are no longer any closest shared factors.

Example of Strong electrolyte:

Strong Electrolytes

strong acids      –    HCl, HBr, HI, HNO3, HClO3, HClO4, and H2SO4 

strong bases     –    NaOH, KOH, LiOH, Ba(OH)2, and Ca(OH)2 

salts                   –     NaCl, KBr, MgCl2, and many, many more

Example of weak electrolytes:

Weak Electrolytes

weak acids    –   HF, HC2H3O2 (acetic acid), H2CO3 (carbonic acid), H3PO4 (phosphoric acid), and many more

weak bases   –   NH3(ammonia), C5H5N (pyridine), and several more, all containing “N”

Factors affecting degree of dissociation:

• Strong electrolytes have a degree of dissociation close to one, while weak electrolytes have a degree of dissociation less than one.
• Solvent nature: Solvents with a high dielectric constant show more dissociation.
• Dilution: As the solution is diluted, the degree of dissociation increases.
• Temperature: As the temperature rises, the degree of dissociation rises as well.
• Adding another species: Adding another solute with an ion that is similar to that of a weak electrolyte causes the weak electrolyte’s degree of dissociation to decrease.

Key terms to know:

Hyper-: A condition that begins with the word “hyper” refers to an overabundance of anything.

Hypo-: A condition that begins with the letter “hypo” refers to a lack of something.

Ion:- electrically charged atoms are known as ions.

Cation-: Cations are ions with a positive charge.

Anions-: Ions with a negative charge are known as anions.

pH-: pH is a scale that determines whether a liquid is acidic or alkaline. The pH of your blood is naturally between 7.36 and 7.44.

Acidic: A pH of less than 7 indicates that the substance is acidic.

Neutral:- When the pH level is 7 it is called neutral.

Basic (“alkaline”): Whose pH level is more than 7 is named as basic.

What do electrolytes do?

Electrolytes aid in the conductivity of electrical charges in your cells, allowing your muscles to contract. Chemical reactions benefit from the same electrical charges, especially when it comes to hydration and fluid balance inside and outside of cells.

Electrolytes work on the concept that certain chemical elements can hold a positive or negative electrical charge naturally. When certain elements are dissolved in a liquid, the liquid becomes electrically conductible.

Salt water, for example, is a good conductor of electricity. Salt is made up of sodium (which is positively charged) and chlorine (which is negatively charged), and their charges balance out when combined. Ions are atoms that have an electrical charge (positive ions are called cations, while negative ions are called anions).

When you dissolve salt in water, the sodium and chlorine atoms separate, reverting to their original positive and negative charges. Because the sodium and chlorine ions have opposite electrical charges, electricity jumps between them rather than between the water molecules.

Electrolytes assist your body maintain balance at the simplest chemical level. Ions are used by your body to carry chemical molecules in and out of cells, much as they are used by electricity to travel from place to place in salt water.

Conclusion:

Electrolytes are substances that may dissolve in water and release cations and anions. These ions can aid in the transmission of electricity in a solution. Strong electrolytes and weak electrolytes differ primarily in that strong electrolytes can almost entirely dissociate into ions, whilst weak electrolytes can only partially dissociate into ions.