Elektrolüüdilahused

Elektrolüüdilahused are solutions that conduct electricity due to the presence of dissolved ions. These ions are typically formed when an electrolyte, a substance that dissociates into ions when dissolved in a solvent, is mixed with a polar solvent, most commonly water. The ability of an elektrolüüdilahus to conduct electricity is directly related to the concentration and mobility of these ions.

There are two main categories of electrolytes: strong electrolytes and weak electrolytes. Strong electrolytes, such as salts like sodium chloride (NaCl) and strong acids like sulfuric acid (H2SO4), dissociate almost completely into their constituent ions in solution. This results in a high concentration of ions and thus good electrical conductivity. Weak electrolytes, on the other hand, such as weak acids like acetic acid (CH3COOH) and weak bases like ammonia (NH3), only partially dissociate, establishing an equilibrium between the undissociated molecules and the ions. Consequently, weak elektrolüüdilahused exhibit lower electrical conductivity compared to strong ones.

Non-electrolytes, such as sugar (sucrose) or ethanol, do not dissociate into ions when dissolved and therefore do not conduct electricity. The concept of elektrolüüdilahused is fundamental in various fields, including chemistry, biology, and electrochemistry, playing crucial roles in processes like nerve impulse transmission, battery operation, and chemical reactions. The conductivity of an elektrolüüdilahus can be measured using a conductivity meter, which quantifies the ease with which electric current flows through the solution.