Which of the following is a nonelectrolyte? Please state why or why not for each. Thanks
a) NaOH
b) HNO3
c) C2H6O (ethanol)
d) KF
e) CH3COOH (acetic acid)
The correct answer is: c) C₂H₆O (ethanol)
Explanation:
To determine which of the substances is a nonelectrolyte, we need to understand what electrolytes are:
- An electrolyte is a substance that dissociates into ions when dissolved in water, allowing the solution to conduct electricity.
- A strong electrolyte dissociates completely into ions (e.g., strong acids, strong bases, and salts).
- A weak electrolyte partially dissociates into ions (e.g., weak acids and weak bases).
- A nonelectrolyte does not dissociate into ions in solution and therefore does not conduct electricity.
Let’s evaluate each option:
a) NaOH (sodium hydroxide)
- Type: Strong base
- Dissociation: NaOH → Na⁺ + OH⁻
- Conducts electricity? Yes.
- Electrolyte type: Strong electrolyte
b) HNO₃ (nitric acid)
- Type: Strong acid
- Dissociation: HNO₃ → H⁺ + NO₃⁻
- Conducts electricity? Yes.
- Electrolyte type: Strong electrolyte
c) C₂H₆O (ethanol)
- Type: Neutral organic compound (alcohol)
- Dissociation: Does not dissociate into ions
- Conducts electricity? No.
- Electrolyte type: Nonelectrolyte
- ✅ Correct answer: Ethanol is a nonelectrolyte because it dissolves in water without ionizing. It remains as intact molecules in solution and cannot carry electrical current.
d) KF (potassium fluoride)
- Type: Ionic salt
- Dissociation: KF → K⁺ + F⁻
- Conducts electricity? Yes.
- Electrolyte type: Strong electrolyte
e) CH₃COOH (acetic acid)
- Type: Weak acid
- Dissociation: CH₃COOH ⇌ CH₃COO⁻ + H⁺
- Conducts electricity? Yes, but weakly
- Electrolyte type: Weak electrolyte
Summary:
Only ethanol (C₂H₆O) is a nonelectrolyte because it does not form ions in aqueous solution. It remains in molecular form and thus cannot conduct electricity. The rest (NaOH, HNO₃, KF, and CH₃COOH) are electrolytes—either strong or weak—because they ionize in water.