Strong electrolytes dissociate fully while weak electrolytes dissociate partially.
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Electrolytes are substances whose solutions conduct electricity because they release ions. Strong electrolytes, such as salts, strong acids and strong bases, dissociate almost completely and therefore conduct well at a given concentration. Weak electrolytes, such as acetic acid and ammonia, ionize only slightly, so their solutions conduct poorly. Non-electrolytes such as sugar dissolve as molecules and produce no ions at all. The distinction is based on the extent of ionization, not on solubility.
Key ideas: Strong electrolytes dissociate essentially completely (salts, strong acids and bases); weak ones only partly (acetic acid, NH3, HgCl2). Compare equal concentrations by conductivity: HCl is far higher than acetic acid. Van't Hoff factor i approaches the number of ions for strong electrolytes at low concentration (NaCl near 2, but 1.9 at 0.1 M).
Common mistakes and connections: Mistakes: equating solubility with strength (CaSO4 and AgCl are barely soluble but what dissolves is fully dissociated), and treating strong electrolytes as 100 percent free ions at high concentration due to ion pairing. Link to colligative properties and Debye-Huckel theory.
Strong electrolytes ionize fully and conduct well; weak ones ionize only about 1 percent at 0.1 M, and sugar not at all so it does not conduct. The interactive lesson shows this as a live animation or chart.
A sugar solution does not conduct electricity, while a sodium chloride solution of the same concentration conducts strongly.
Strong electrolytes dissociate fully while weak electrolytes dissociate partially.
Strong and Weak Electrolytes is a beginner topic in Acids, Bases & Electrochemistry. It needs no earlier chemistry lessons and is a good starting point.
Study these earlier topics in Acids, Bases & Electrochemistry first: Conductance and Conductivity, Molar Conductivity, Kohlrausch's Law.
The next topics in Acids, Bases & Electrochemistry are Ionic Mobility and Transport Number.
Yes. The interactive lesson includes a self-check question on Strong and Weak Electrolytes, and the Acids, Bases & Electrochemistry quiz draws on every topic in this area.
Strong and Weak Electrolytes is topic 83 of 105 in Acids, Bases & Electrochemistry.