How does acetic acid differ from hydrochloric acid in degree of conductivity, and why?

1 Answer
Dr. Hayek
Nov 13, 2015

see explanation.

Explanation:

For a solution to be a good conductive is when it contains a high number of ions that will serve as electrons shuttles from one electrode to another.

Having said that, solutions that can produce a high number of ions in solutions will be highly conductive solutions and they are called strong electrolytes.

Hydrochloric acid #HCl# is a strong acid because it is a strong electrolyte and it is considered that will completely dissociate in water to produce a high number of ions #H^+# and #Cl^-#.
enter image source here

However, acetic acid #HC_2H_3O_2# is a weak acid and will partially dissociate in water producing a small number of ions #H^+# and #C_2H_3O_2^-#. Acetic acid is a weak electrolyte.
enter image source here

Images source: Zumdahl textbook.

Related questions
See all questions in Properties of ionic, covalent, and metallic compounds
Impact of this question
18601 views around the world
You can reuse this answer
Creative Commons License