Experiment No.

1
Group No. 3
Cruzada, Carlos Andrei R.
Ferrer, Ma. Milanna Regina M.
Hernandez, Renz Aldrin D.
Ilawan, Mary Adrienne M.
Miranda, Roshelle Mae C.
Olano, Leewana Shandrae M.
12 - 1 Miguel Cordero
______________________________________________________________________
Abstract
Electric conductivity is the observation or measurement of the capacity of the
electrical current in or to an object or material. Substances that have electrolytes in their
aqueous solution can conduct electricity and it differs to a strong electrolyte, a weak
electrolyte, or a non-electrolyte. The experiment is performed by dissolving various
samples in water, and with the use of an electrical apparatus, their conductivity was
investigated. Factors affecting the electric conductivity of an aqueous solution are its
concentration of ions, type of dissolved compound, and its temperature. Through
conducting this experiment, it is concluded that the conductivities of different water
soluble molecular compounds differ throughout testing of various examples and what
they are being paired with. It is important to study electrolytes, since they are a vital
thing to have in our body. Conducting this experiment helped in understanding what
electrolytes are.

I. Introduction

Electric conductivity is the measurement of the capacity of the electrical current in or

to an object or material. It is an intrinsic property of material that decides whether or not
this material can carry a current.
 Water is a polar molecule. It has the ability to dissolve polar substances. These ions
in these polar substances dissociate and the water is charged, making the water
conductive to electricity. These are called electrolytes. An electrolyte is a substance that
has free ions and behaves as an electrically conductive medium[1]. Substances that
have electrolytes in the solution are called ionic solutions, and can conduct electricity. A
strong electrolyte produces a bright light in a typical electrical conductivity apparatus
because it has many ions present in the solution. On the other hand, weak electrolyte
produces a dim light compared to the strong electrolyte in a electrical conductivity
apparatus. Meanwhile, the absence of ions in the solution results in no electric
conductivity and they are called non-electrolytes.

Electrolytes are composed of acids, bases, and salts that produces cations and
anions which move between electrodes subjected to electric current. The extent of
electrical conductivity depends on the degree ionization of the substances dissolved in
solution.
II. Materials and Methods
III. Results and Discussion

Table 1. Strong Electrolytes

Sample Observation of the Classification

Brightness of the Bulb

0.1 M HCl bright SE

0.1 M Sulfuric Acid bright SE

0.1 M Sodium Hydroxide bright SE

0.1 M Calcium Hydroxide bright SE

0.1 M Sodium Chloride bright SE

0.1 M Sodium Acetate bright SE

0.1 M Ammonium Chloride bright SE

A strong electrolyte is a compound whose components completely dissociate into

ions in a solution. This solution contains only ions and no molecules. Strong electrolytes
are good conductors of electricity because of their ions only in aqueous or in molten
state[2]. Compounds considered as strong electrolytes are strong acids, strong bases,
and ionic salts. All samples listed above are specific examples of strong electrolytes.
Table 2. Weak Electrolytes

Sample Observation of the Classification

Brightness of the Bulb

Tap water dim WE

0.1 M Ammonia dim WE

Weak electrolytes are electrolytes whose ions do not completely dissociate in an

aqueous solution. This solution typically contains both ions and molecules of the
sample. Weak electrolytes ionize partially in water[3].

For the case of the tap water, since it has other materials present in the water
such as water treatment chemicals, metal, and some salts and minerals, it can have
electric conductivity[4].

Table 3. Non-Electrolytes

Sample Observation of the Classification

Brightness of the Bulb

Distilled water no light NE

0.1 M Glucose no light NE

0.1 M Ethanol no light NE

95% Ethanol no light NE

A non-electrolyte is a compound that is not ionized in an aqueous solution. These

are compounds that are bonded covalently, and are nonpolar molecules[5]. Because of
this fact, non-electrolytes cannot conduct electricity at all.
 For the case of distilled water, the reason it is a non-electrolyte is that the water
is in its purest form, H2O. The only reason why other kinds of water such as tap water
are considered a weak electrolyte is because these kinds of water have other materials
present, such as discussed before. Since distilled water is only H2O without any other
materials present, it cannot conduct electricity; therefore distilled water is a non-
electrolyte.

There are a number of factors that may affect the conductivity of an electrolyte.
First is the concentration of ions. It is given that the higher concentration of ions a
solution has, the higher its conductivity will be. Second, the type of compound that
dissolves in the water. The compound may be a strong, weak, or non-electrolyte, and if
dissolved, can affect the electric conductivity of the solution. And lastly, its temperature.
The warmer its temperature is, the higher its solubility would be because all substances
generally dissolve better in hot temperatures, and if more of the substance is dissolved,
more of its ions will dissociate and be concentrated in the solution[6]

IV. Conclusion

Through conducting this experiment, it is concluded that the conductivities of

different water soluble molecular compounds differ throughout testing of various
examples and what they are being paired with. The conductivity has little to no
correlation with the fact that some of these compounds are made of the same elements,
which is what was previously assumed to be true. Compounds that dissolve in water do
not necessarily conduct electricity, it depends upon several factors and what the
compound dissociates into when in aqueous solution. It is important to study
electrolytes, since they are a vital thing to have in our body. Conducting this experiment
helped in understanding what electrolytes are.
V. Reference

1. Electrolytes, Ionization, and Conductivity. (n.d). Retrieved from:

https://www.siyavula.com/read/science/grade-10/reactions-in-aqueous-
solution/18-reactions-in-aqueous-solution-03
2. Helmenstine, A. (2019, April 28). Strong Electrolyte Definition and Examples.
Retrieved from: https://www.thoughtco.com/definition-of-strong-electrolyte-
605927
3. Helmenstine, T. (2018, August 20). Weak Electrolyte Definition and Examples.
Retrieved from: https://www.thoughtco.com/definition-of-weak-electrolyte-605951
4. Why distilled water is a nonelectrolye and tap water is weak electrolyte?. (n.d).
Retrieved from:
https://www.answers.com/Q/Why_distilled_water_is_a_non_electrolyte_and_tap
_water_is_weak_electrolyte
5. Helmenstine, A. (2019, April 20). Nonelectrolyte Definition and Example.
Retrieved from: https://www.thoughtco.com/definition-of-nonelectrolyte-604573
6. Electrolytes, Ionization, and Conductivity. (n.d). Retrieved from:
https://www.siyavula.com/read/science/grade-10/reactions-in-aqueous-
solution/18-reactions-in-aqueous-solution-03