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 and explanation is :
The correct answer is c) C₂H₆O (ethanol) because it is a nonelectrolyte. Let’s analyze each option to determine why.
Electrolyte vs. Nonelectrolyte
An electrolyte is a substance that dissolves in water and dissociates into ions, allowing the solution to conduct electricity. Strong electrolytes fully dissociate, while weak electrolytes only partially dissociate. A nonelectrolyte does not dissociate into ions in water and thus does not conduct electricity.
Analysis of Each Substance:
- NaOH (Sodium Hydroxide) – Electrolyte
Sodium hydroxide is a strong base and a strong electrolyte. When dissolved in water, it fully dissociates into sodium ions (Na⁺) and hydroxide ions (OH⁻), making the solution conductive. - HNO₃ (Nitric Acid) – Electrolyte
Nitric acid is a strong acid and completely ionizes in water, producing hydrogen ions (H⁺) and nitrate ions (NO₃⁻). This makes it a strong electrolyte. - C₂H₆O (Ethanol) – Nonelectrolyte
Ethanol is a molecular compound that does not ionize in water. While it dissolves well due to hydrogen bonding, it does not produce ions, meaning it does not conduct electricity. - KF (Potassium Fluoride) – Electrolyte
Potassium fluoride is a salt that dissolves in water and fully dissociates into potassium ions (K⁺) and fluoride ions (F⁻), making it a strong electrolyte. - CH₃COOH (Acetic Acid) – Weak Electrolyte
Acetic acid is a weak acid and only partially ionizes in water, producing some hydrogen ions (H⁺) and acetate ions (CH₃COO⁻). Since only a fraction of the molecules dissociate, it is classified as a weak electrolyte rather than a nonelectrolyte.
Conclusion:
Ethanol (C₂H₆O) is the only nonelectrolyte in the list because it does not ionize in water and therefore does not conduct electricity.