JEE Main & Advanced Chemistry Equilibrium / साम्यावस्था Electrical Conductors

Substances, which allow electric current to pass through them, are known as conductors or electrical conductors. Conductors can be divided into two types,

(1) Conductors which conduct electricity without undergoing any chemical change are known as metallic or electronic conductors.

(2) Conductors which undergo decomposition (a chemical change) when an electric current is passed through them are known as electrolytic conductors or electrolytes.

Electrolytes are further divided into two types on the basis of their strengths,

(i) Substances which almost completely ionize into ions in their aqueous solution are called strong electrolytes. Degree of ionization for this type of electrolyte is one i.e., \[\alpha \approx 1\].

For example : \[HCl,\ {{H}_{2}}S{{O}_{4}},\ NaCl,\ HN{{O}_{3}},\ KOH,\ \]\[NaOH,\ \] \[HN{{O}_{3}},AgN{{O}_{3}},\ CuS{{O}_{4}}\] etc. means all strong acids, bases and all types of salts.

(ii) Substances which ionize to a small extent in their aqueous solution are known as weak electrolytes. Degree of ionization for this types of electrolytes is \[\alpha <<<1\].

For example :\[{{H}_{2}}O,\ C{{H}_{3}}COOH,\ N{{H}_{4}}OH,\ \]HCN, \[Liq.\ S{{O}_{2}}\], \[HCOOH\] etc. means all weak acids and bases.