A 0.10 M aqueous solution of which of the following substances will have the highest electrical conductivity? Assume complete dissociation for strong electrolytes.
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Correct answer
B. Hydrochloric acid, HCl
Principle or equation
Electrical conductivity of a solution depends on the concentration of ions. Strong electrolytes dissociate completely, producing more ions than weak electrolytes or non-electrolytes at the same concentration.
Why this answer is correct
Sucrose is a non-electrolyte and produces no ions. Acetic acid and ammonia are weak electrolytes, producing few ions. HCl is a strong acid that dissociates completely into H+ and Cl-, giving the highest ion concentration and thus the highest conductivity.
Example
0.10 M HCl produces 0.20 M ions (0.10 M H+ + 0.10 M Cl-), while 0.10 M acetic acid produces much less than 0.20 M ions because it only partially ionizes.
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