What is the difference between electrolytes and nonelectrolytes

Glucose sugar readily dissolves in water, but because it does not dissociate into ions in solution, it is considered a nonelectrolyte; solutions containing glucose do not, therefore, conduct electricity. Boundless vets and curates high-quality, openly licensed content from around the Internet. This particular resource used the following sources:. Skip to main content. Aqueous Reactions. Search for:. Electrolyte and Nonelectrolyte Solutions. Learning Objective Recognize the properties of an electrolyte solution.

Key Points Electrolytes are salts or molecules that ionize completely in solution. As a result, electrolyte solutions readily conduct electricity. Nonelectrolytes do not dissociate into ions in solution; nonelectrolyte solutions do not, therefore, conduct electricity. Electrolytes are also important in plant bodies. The compounds that are not split into positive and negative ions when we dissolve them in solvents are nonelectrolytes. Absence of ions in the medium makes them non-conductive.

For example, sucrose, glucose, ethane, etc. Ionic compounds and some compounds with polar bonds can be electrolytes. Compounds with nonpolar bonds are mostly nonelectrolytes. Furthermore, electrolytes in solutions can conduct electricity contrary to nonelectrolytes. All compounds we know are either electrolytes or nonelectrolytes. Helmenstine, Anne Marie. With a mind rooted firmly to basic principals of chemistry and passion for ever evolving field of industrial chemistry, she is keenly interested to be a true companion for those who seek knowledge in the subject of chemistry.

Your email address will not be published. Electrolytes are the compounds that are made of weak bonds while nonelectrolytes are the compounds that are made of a strong bond.

The electrovalent bond is present in the electrolyte chemical compound; on the flip side, the covalent bond is present in nonelectrolyte chemical compounds. Electrolytes usually include in the electrovalent compounds; on the other hand, nonelectrolytes include in the covalent compounds. The base, acid, and salts called electrolytes; on the flip side, carbohydrates, fats, lipids, sugars, and organic compounds called nonelectrolytes.

Electrolytes further divided into two types while nonelectrolytes not further divided into types. Polar compounds are known as the electrolytes; on the other hand, non-polar compounds known as nonelectrolytes. The molten form of electrolytes is ionizable; on the flip side, the molten form of nonelectrolytes is non-ionizable. The electrolytes used for identification of standard electrode potential; on the other hand, the non-electrolytes are not used for the identification of standard electrode potential.

The electric current conduction of electrolytes increases with the increase in the temperature in electrolytic cells; on the flip side, the conduction of electric current by nonelectrolytes is independent of the temperature.

The bond in electrolytes is very weak that it can easily break during the conduction of electric current; on the other hand, the bond in electrolytes is a very strong bond that cannot break in the conduction of electric current.

Electrolytes have the ability to dissolve completely in the solution; on the other hand; nonelectrolytes do not have the ability to dissolve completely in the solution. Electrolytes break into positive and negative ions; on the flip side, nonelectrolytes do not break into positive and negative ions. Electrolytes do not include pure water; on the contrary, nonelectrolytes also include pure water. The conductivities of electrolytes increase as the amount of the less strong electrolyte increases in an electrolyte solution, whereas nonelectrolytes do not have an effect of the concentration as they are not related to the conductivities.

Electrolytes are the chemical compounds that completely dissociates in the water solution and give positive and negative ions to the solution.