The student is now told that the four solids, in no particular order, are barium

Question

The student is now told that the four solids, in no particular order, are barium chloride (BaCl2), sugar (C6H12O6), butanoic acid (C3H7COOH), and sodium bromide (NaBr). Assuming that conductivity is correlated to the number of ions in solution, rank the four substances based on how well a 0.20 M solution in water will conduct electricity. Rank from most conductive to least conductive. To rank items as equivalent, overlap them.

barium chloride butanoic acid sodium bromide sugar

Most conductive Least conductive

Explanation / Answer

As stated in the question conductivity correlated to the number of ions in solution.

In the given compounds barium chloride has total 3 number of ions (one Ba2+ and two Cl- ions)

butanoic acid has two ions (one butanoate ion and one proton H+)

sodium bromide has two ions (one sodium Na+ ion and one bromide Br- ion)

sugar doesnot have any ions as it cannot ionized into ions.

Between the butanoic acid and sodium bromide, butanoic acid has proton as one of its ions. The size of the proton is small and it will get solvated more hence the conductivity of butanoic acid is less when compare with sodium bromide.

The order of conductivity is

(Most conductive) Barium chloride > sodium bromide > butanoic acid > sugar (Least conductive)

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