An electrolyte will yield ions by undergoing a:
Select the correct answer below:
physical change
chemical change
spontaneous change
depends on the substance
The correct answer and explanation is :
The correct answer is:
Chemical change
Explanation:
Electrolytes are substances that dissolve in water (or another solvent) to produce ions, allowing the solution to conduct electricity. This process occurs through a chemical change rather than a physical change.
A chemical change involves the breaking and forming of chemical bonds, leading to the formation of new substances with different properties. When an electrolyte dissolves in water, it undergoes dissociation (ionic compounds) or ionization (some covalent compounds like acids), forming positively charged cations and negatively charged anions. This transformation is not just a simple phase change (like melting or boiling) but an actual reorganization of atoms or molecules at the chemical level.
Examples of Electrolyte Dissociation:
- Ionic Compounds (Dissociation):
- Sodium chloride (NaCl) dissolves in water and dissociates into sodium (Na⁺) and chloride (Cl⁻) ions:
[
NaCl (s) \rightarrow Na^+ (aq) + Cl^- (aq)
] - This is a chemical change because the ionic bonds in solid NaCl are broken.
- Acids (Ionization):
- Hydrogen chloride (HCl) dissolves in water and ionizes into hydrogen (H⁺) and chloride (Cl⁻) ions:
[
HCl (g) + H_2O \rightarrow H_3O^+ + Cl^-
] - This process is also a chemical change as new ions are formed through interaction with water molecules.
Why Not Physical Change?
A physical change does not alter the chemical identity of a substance. For instance, melting ice to water is a physical change because no new substance is formed. However, dissolving an electrolyte in water changes its chemical structure at the molecular level, making it a chemical change.
Thus, the process of an electrolyte yielding ions is best classified as a chemical change because it involves the breaking of chemical bonds and the formation of charged particles.