Question

Which of the following is an electrolyte?
A.\[AgN{O_3}\]solution
B.Alcohol
C.Mercury
D.Sugar solution

Answer 1

Hint: These compounds given in the question are either ionic or covalent and generally ionic compounds are electrolytic in nature which gets dissociated into ions. Also, the molecular formula generally tells about the compound whether ionic or covalent.

 Complete step by step answer:
Generally, electrolytes are those substances which dissociate into ions when dissolved in solution and conduct electricity and those substances could be anything acid, base, salt etc. They conduct electricity in solution because they get dissociated into ions and due to mobility (movement) of ions, electricity is conducted.
When electrolyte gets dissociated, it forms cations or anions or both which further moves into solution and conducts electricity.
Electrolytes can be divided into 2 types – Strong electrolytes and Weak electrolytes.
Strong electrolytes are those which completely get dissolved in the solution. For example – \[NaCl,{\text{ }}NaN{O_3}\]
Suppose \[NaCl\] is dissolved in water then, it is represented as \[NaCl\left( s \right) \to N{a^ + }\left( {aq.} \right){\text{ }} + {\text{ }}C{l^ - }\left( {aq.} \right)\]
Weak electrolytes are those which get dissolved in solution in a smaller fraction (not completely). Example- Hydrogen carbonate \[\begin{gathered}
  ({H_2}C{O_3}) \\
    \\
\end{gathered} \]
Relating the concept to the given question: - In the question given we have to choose which among the following is electrolyte so first we will look at the type of compound whether ionic or covalent since ionic compounds readily get dissolved in solution so they will act as electrolyte.
Option a: -\[AgN{O_3}\] is ionic compound called as Silver Nitrate and it gets dissociated into \[A{g^ + } and {\text{ }}N{O_3}^ - \] which will make it as electrolyte (according to definition of electrolyte, substance which gets dissociates into ions when dissolved)
Option b: - Alcohol is a type of covalent compound which does not get dissociated into ions because it is generally alkane attached with the \[OH\] group. So, it won’t act as electrolyte.
Option c: - Mercury is a liquid that conducts electricity but it doesn’t act as electrolyte because electrolyte gets dissociated into ions in solution when dissolved and mercury is also an element not compound.
Option d: - Sugar is also a non-electrolyte, though it will get dissolved in water solution completely but it is incapable of conducting electricity through its solution (sugar solution). Generally, the sugar formula is \[{C_6}{H_{12}}{O_6}\] and it does not dissociate into ions in solution.
So, the answer is \[AgN{O_3}\] which is an electrolyte among these and will dissociate as: -
\[AgN{O_3} \to A{g^ + }\left( {aq.} \right){\text{ }} + {\text{ }}N{O_3}^ - \left( {aq.} \right)\]

Hence option A is correct.

Note:
There are few compounds which are confusing like compounds of Carbon which are covalent but look like ionic but they are covalent. Also, the electrolytic compounds generally form ions when dissolved in solutions and their extent of dissolution and solubility and hydration energy factors should be considered and there is Fajan’s rule which tells about the covalent and ionic character of compounds.