Water: The Universal Solvent

  • Water is a very versatile solvent because polar molecules are attracted to other polar molecules + its molecules form HB (adhesive)

        ○ (+) and (-) attraction

  • Why are ionic compounds soluble in water?

        ○ When ionic compounds are dissolved, the dipole of the water interacts with the charged ions and causes them to separate

        ○ The strong ionic bonds between the positive and negative ions of the solid are replaced by stronger ion-dipole interactions between the ions & water → the interaction is energetically favorable

  • Hydration: “positive ends” of the water molecules are attracted to the negatively charged anions and that the “negative ends” are attracted to the positively charged cations
  • When ionic substances (salts) dissolve in water, they break up into the individual cations and anions.

The Nature of Aqueous Solutions: Strong and Weak Electrolytes

  • Electrical conductivity: its ability to conduct an electric current
  • Electrolyte: compound that conducts an electric current when dissolved in water or melted

         ○ Has charged particles

Strong Electrolytes

  • Strong electrolytes: substances that completely ionizes when they are dissolved in water (Ex: NaCl)

         ○ All ionic compounds and strong acids/bases are strong electrolytes

  • Aqueous solutions with them conduct an electric current very efficiently

Weak Electrolytes

  • Weak electrolytes: only a few ions produced when dissolved in water (ex: acetic acid)

        ○ Solutions with them conduct only a small current

        ○ Weak acid (NH4+ ammonium ion)/base (NH3 ammonia) = weak electrolyte

Nonelectrolytes

  • Nonelectrolyte: substances that dissolves in water but do not produce any ions (ex: sugar, ethanol) → instead entire molecules dispersed in the water → solution does not conduct an electric current