Q. 9.11 - An Introduction to General, Organic, and Biological Chemistry

Question

Indicate whether aqueous solutions of each of the following solutes contain only ions, only molecules, or mostly molecules and a few ions:

a. Acetic acid, $H{C}_2{H}_3{O}_2$, a weak electrolyte.

b. $NaBr$, a strong electrolyte.

c. fructose, $C_6{H}_{12}{O}_6$, a nonelectrolyte.

Step-by-Step Solution

Answer

(part a) Acetic acid, $H{C}_2{H}_3{O}_2$ a weak electrolyte containing mostly molecules containing ions

(part b) $NaBr$, is a strong electrolyte that contains $N{a}^{+}$ and $B{r}^{-}$ ions.

(part c) Fructose $\left(C_6{H}_{12}{O}_6\right)$ dissolves in water as molecules.

Step1: Given information (part a)

Molecules are neutral particles that are established through the bond formation of atoms of two or more elements. An ion is a positively or negatively charged particle formed by the loss or gain of electrons.

Step2: Find the aqueous solutions contains molecules or ions (part a).

Given:

Acetic acid$\left(H{C}_2{H}_3{O}_2\right)$, a weak electrolyte. Weak electrolytes don't completely dissociate into ions.

Acetic acid solutions are mostly molecules with a few ions.

Step3: Find the aqueous solutions contains molecules or ions (part b).

Given:

$NaBr$, a strong electrolyte. Strong electrolytes dissociate almost completely into corresponding ions in a solution.

A $NaBr$ solution contains salt ions, $N{a}^{+}$ ions, and $B{r}^{-}$ ions.

Step4: Find the aqueous solutions contains molecules or ions (part c).

Given:

Fructose$\left(C_6{H}_{12}{O}_6\right)$, a non-electrolyte. Non- electrolytes do not dissociate into ions.

Fructose $\left(C_6{H}_{12}{O}_6\right)$, a non-electrolyte, dissolves in the water as molecules.