Activity No.

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ELECTROLYTES AND NON-ELECTROLYTES

Name: _________________________________________________ Score: ____________

Section: ____________________Group No._______ Date Performed: ____________

Electrolytes are compounds that conduct electricity in water-based solutions. Ionic compounds
are electrolytes in which the electrolytes from positively and negatively charge ions in solution.
Electrolytes are divided into three substances: Acids, Bases, and Salts. Not all electrolytes conduct
electricity to the same degree. Nonelectrolytes are compounds that do not conduct electric currents in
water based solution. Most molecular (covalent) compounds are nonelectrolytes. They are non
electrolytes because they are nonionic, which means there are no positively and negatively charged ions
in solution to conduct the electrical charges. A simple apparatus is used in determining the relative
conductivity of several solutions.

I. Objectives
In this activity, you should be able to
1. define electrolytes, strong electrolytes, weak electrolytes and non-electrolytes,
2. classify substances as strong electrolytes, weak electrolytes and non-electrolytes and;
3. illustrate the flow of electrons in the apparatus with the presence of electrolytes.

II. Materials and Chemicals

Materials
Electric Conductivity Apparatus
Small brush
Wash bottle
Spoon

Chemicals
50 mL of the following solutions/samples in a party cup:
sugar
salt
vinegar
muriatic acid
soap
rubbing alcohol
monosodium glutamate (MSG)
distilled water

ELECTROLYTES AND NON-ELECTROLYTES

Student Worksheet
III. Procedure
Note: Clean the electrode using the brush and distilled water in the wash bottle before and
after using it in different samples to avoid contamination.
1. Fill the party cup half way with the distilled water.
2. Dip the electrode of the apparatus in the distilled water. It is important that they do no touch each
other. You may need to tape them to the sides of the beaker to keep them from touching. Any
kind of tape will do.
3. Observe what will happen to the bulb.
4. Record your observation and fill in the table.
5. Add one spoonful of salt to the party cup and stir.
6. Observe and record your observation in the table.
7. Empty and rinse the beaker.
8. Repeat steps 1-7 but use sugar instead of salt.
9. Test the conductivity of the following samples;
a. MSG solution
b. Muriatic acid
c. Rubbing alcohol
d. Soap solution
e. Vinegar
Caution: Muriatic acid is very corrosive. Avoid contact with skin.
10. Observe and record your observation in the table below
Classification
Bulb Major composition of
(strong electrolytes,
Samples (lighted up or did not particles
weak electrolytes and
light up) (ions or molecules)
non-electrolyte)
1. Distilled Water
2. Salt solution
3. Sugar solution
4. Muriatic acid
5. MSG solution
6. Rubbing alcohol
7. Soap solution
8. Vinegar

ELECTROLYTES AND NON-ELECTROLYTES

Student Worksheet
IV. Questions
1. Define operationally
a. electrolyte - _________________________________________________________________
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b. strong electrolyte - ___________________________________________________________
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c. weak electrolyte - ____________________________________________________________
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d. non-electrolyte - _____________________________________________________________
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2. Explain the following briefly:
a. the bulb lighted up with electrolytes. ______________________________________________

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b. the bulb did not light up with non-electrolytes.______________________________________
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3. Sketch the flow of electrons in the electric conductivity apparatus starting from the solution with
electrolytes to the electrode, to the dry cell, to the bulb, and finally to the other electrode. Use
symbol e to represent electrons and arrows to indicate electron flow.

bulb

Solution
with ionic
ELECTROLYTES AND NON-ELECTROLYTES solute
Student Worksheet
4. Would pure crystalline table salt, NaCl(s), have conducted electric current? Explain your answer.
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V. Generalization
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ELECTROLYTES AND NON-ELECTROLYTES

Student Worksheet