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:
An electrolyte is a substance that dissociates into ions when dissolved in water or melted. This dissociation involves breaking and forming of chemical bonds, making it a chemical change.
In more detail, an electrolyte is typically an ionic compound (like sodium chloride, NaCl, or potassium nitrate, KNO₃) or a molecular compound that can ionize (like acids or bases). When the electrolyte is dissolved in water, it undergoes a chemical reaction where the ions that were once part of the solid lattice structure are released into the solution. For example, sodium chloride (NaCl) in water dissociates into sodium ions (Na⁺) and chloride ions (Cl⁻), a process driven by the interaction between the ionic bonds in NaCl and the polar nature of water molecules.
Why it is a chemical change:
- Bond Breaking and Formation: The dissociation process requires the breaking of ionic bonds in the crystal structure of the electrolyte. The ions are then surrounded by water molecules, forming new interactions known as hydration. This is a chemical process, not just a physical rearrangement.
- New Substance Formation: The formation of ions in the solution is considered the creation of new substances (the individual ions). This transformation from a solid to an ionic solution is chemical in nature because it alters the molecular structure of the compound.
Physical vs. Chemical Change:
- A physical change involves changes in the state of matter or physical properties, such as melting, freezing, or dissolving, without altering the internal structure or composition of the substance.
- A chemical change involves the breaking and forming of chemical bonds, which results in the formation of new substances. The dissociation of electrolytes into ions is a change in the substance’s molecular structure, hence a chemical change.
Conclusion:
The dissociation of electrolytes into ions is a chemical change because it involves breaking and forming chemical bonds, leading to the creation of new ionic species in the solution.