The compound calcium acetate is a strong electrolyte. Write the reaction when solid calcium acetate is put into water
The Correct Answer and Explanation is :
When solid calcium acetate (Ca(C₂H₃O₂)₂) is dissolved in water, it dissociates completely into its ions, as it is a strong electrolyte. The dissociation reaction can be written as follows:
Dissociation reaction:
[
\text{Ca(C}_2\text{H}_3\text{O}_2\text{)}_2 (s) \rightarrow \text{Ca}^{2+} (aq) + 2 \, \text{C}_2\text{H}_3\text{O}_2^- (aq)
]
Explanation:
Calcium acetate is a salt composed of calcium ions (Ca²⁺) and acetate ions (C₂H₃O₂⁻). Being a strong electrolyte, calcium acetate completely dissociates in water. When it dissolves in water, the ionic bonds between the calcium ions and acetate ions break due to the interaction between the ions and the water molecules.
- Calcium acetate (Ca(C₂H₃O₂)₂):
- Calcium acetate is an ionic compound, consisting of calcium ions (Ca²⁺) and acetate ions (C₂H₃O₂⁻).
- In the solid form, these ions are held together by strong ionic bonds.
- Dissolution process:
- When solid calcium acetate is placed in water, water molecules surround and stabilize the individual ions.
- The water molecules’ partial negative charge (from oxygen) interacts with the positive calcium ions (Ca²⁺), and the partial positive charge (from hydrogen) interacts with the negative acetate ions (C₂H₃O₂⁻).
- Dissociation into ions:
- The strong interactions between the ions in calcium acetate and the polar water molecules cause the ionic bonds to break, resulting in the formation of free ions in solution.
- As a result, calcium acetate dissociates into one calcium ion (Ca²⁺) and two acetate ions (C₂H₃O₂⁻) for every formula unit of the compound dissolved in water.
Strong Electrolyte:
Since calcium acetate dissociates completely in water, it is considered a strong electrolyte. This means that it will conduct electricity well because of the free-moving ions in solution.
Now, let me generate the image for you.
Here is the illustration showing the dissociation of solid calcium acetate in water. It depicts how the solid breaks into calcium ions (Ca²⁺) and acetate ions (C₂H₃O₂⁻) with water molecules surrounding and interacting with the ions.