Potential electrolyte

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A potential electrolyte , sometimes also called ionic electrolyte, is a non-conductive pure substance which, in dissolved form, forms ions and becomes conductive.

construction

In undissolved form, there is a potential electrolyte from electrically neutral molecules with semi-polar to homopolar bonds with high dipole moment . Almost all weak electrolytes and strong acids belong to them. Potential electrolytes usually conduct practically no current even in the molten state, as their self-dissociation is very low. Examples are B. acids such as acetic acid or hydrogen chloride .

Only when dissolving in a polar solvent such as water or ammonia are ions (electrical charge carriers) formed by electrolytic dissociation and the solution conducts electrical current. The substance only becomes an electrolyte or second-order conductor when it is dissolved, hence the name.

CH 3 COOH + H 2 O → CH 3 COO - + H 3 O +
Formation of a 2nd order conductor by dissociation of acetic acid with the formation of electrically conductive ions in aqueous solution. In infinite dilution, the equilibrium is completely on the right.

The potential electrolyte is in contrast to the real electrolyte. As a pure substance, this already consists of ions and is conductive in the liquid state, often also in the solid state.