Difference Between Electrolytes and Nonelectrolytes
Main difference
The main difference between electrolytes and non-electrolytes is that electrolytes are the chemical compounds that have the ability to ionize in the solution while non-electrolytes are the chemical compounds that do not have the ability to ionize in the solution…
Electrolytes vs. Nonelectrolytes
Electrolytes are the compounds that completely ionize into their ions in water solvents, while nonelectrolytes are the compounds that do not ionize into ions in water solvents. The conduction of electricity is possible in an electrolytic solution; on the other hand, the conduction of electricity is not possible in an electroless solution. Electrolytes are the compounds that are made of weak bonds while non-electrolytes are the compounds that are made of strong bond.
The electrovalent bond is present in the electrolytic chemical compound; on the other hand, the covalent bond is present in non-electrolytic chemical compounds. Electrolytes are generally included in electrovalent compounds; on the other hand, nonelectrolytes are included in covalent compounds. The base, acid, and salts are called electrolytes; on the other hand, carbohydrates, fats, lipids, sugars and organic compounds called non-electrolytes.
Electrolytes are divided into two types, while non-electrolytes are not divided into types. Polar compounds are known as electrolytes; on the other hand, nonpolar compounds known as nonelectrolytes.
The molten form of electrolytes is ionizable; on the other hand, the molten form of nonelectrolytes is not ionizable. The electrolytes used for the identification of the standard electrode potential; on the other hand, nonelectrolytes are not used for identification of the standard electrode potential. The electrical current conduction of the electrolytes increases with the increase in temperature in the electrolytic cells; on the other hand, the conduction of electric current by nonelectrolytes is independent of temperature.
The electrolyte bond is very weak and can be easily broken during the conduction of electric current; On the other hand, the electrolyte bond is a very strong bond that cannot be broken in the conduction of electric current. Electrolytes have the ability to completely dissolve in solution; on the other hand; nonelectrolytes do not have the ability to completely dissolve in solution.
Comparison chart
| electrolytes | no electrolytes |
| Electrolytes are the compounds that completely ionize into the ions in water solvents. | Nonelectrolytes are the compounds that do not ionize into their ions in water solvents. |
| Electric conductivity | |
| It has the ability to conduct electrical current. | It has no ability to conduct electrical current. |
| Chemical bond | |
| electrovalent bond | Covalent bond |
| Compound Types | |
| They are ionic compounds | They are covalent compounds |
| Types | |
| It has two types of strong and weak electrolytes. | It is not divided into more types |
| Pure water | |
| Do not include in an electrolyte | Not included in non-electrolyte |
| bond strength | |
| has the weakest force | has a stronger force |
| Example | |
| Acids, bases and salts | Carbohydrates, lipids, proteins, sugar, etc. |
| cast form | |
| This form is ionizable | This form is not ionizable |
| Standard electrode potential | |
| It is used in the identification of the standard values of electrodes. | It is not used in the identification of electrode standard values. |
| Applications | |
| It is used in the production of alkali metals, in electrolytic cells. | It is not used in metal production and is not used in electrolytic cells. |
| Temperature | |
| Depends on the temperature | Does not depend on temperature |
| Cations and anions | |
| It breaks down into positive and negative ions. | It does not break into positive and negative ions. |
What are electrolytes?
Electrolytes are the chemical compounds that completely dissociate in the water solution and give positive and negative ions to the solution. These ions can also conduct electrical current in electrolytic cells. Electrical energy conduction increases with increasing cell or solution temperatures. It is just the opposite of the conduction of electric current through metals or conductors.
But pure water or distilled water is not included in the type of electrolytes as they cannot form the ions in solutions. Electrolyte ions have the ability to move in the electrolytic bath to make various changes in solutions. Its types are strong electrolytes and weak electrolytes.
Examples of good electrolytes are sulfuric acid, copper sulfate solution, potassium hydroxide, ethanol, zinc sulfate solution, etc.
Applications
- Used in the manufacture of alkali metals.
- Used in the electroplating process
- Used in metal anodizing, etc.
What are nonelectrolytes?
Nonelectrolytes are the chemical compounds that do not completely dissociate in the water solution to give positive and negative ions to the solution. These compounds also do not have the ability to conduct electrical current in electrolytic cells. The electroless solution is not affected by temperature since they are not related to electrolytic conduction or metallic conduction.
It does not form ions such as cations or anions in both solid and molten form. The chemical compounds of nonelectrolytes are usually made up of very strong chemical bonds, such as covalent bonds, which need a large amount of force to break the compounds into ions. That is why these compounds are included in the classification of covalent compounds.
Nonelectrolytes are also known as nonpolar compounds. Pure water or distilled water are included in the non-electrolytes as they cannot form the ions in solutions. Examples of nonelectrolytes are sugar, lipids, fats, carbohydrates, glucose, and carbon-containing compounds, etc.
Key differences
- Electrolytes are chemical compounds that can completely dissociate into their ions in aqueous solutions; On the other hand, nonelectrolytes are the chemical compounds that cannot completely dissociate into their ions in aqueous solutions.
- Electrolytes always ionize into their positive and negative ions; On the other hand, nonelectrolytes do not easily ionize into their positive and negative ions.
- Electrolytes are usually held together by weak chemical bonds; On the other hand, nonelectrolytes are usually held together by strong chemical bonds.
- Electrolytes generally joined by electrovalent bonding; on the other hand, nonelectrolytes are usually linked by covalent bonds.
- There are two other types of electrolytes; on the other hand, there are no other types of non-electrolytes.
- Electrolytes are ionizable in their molten form; on the other hand, nonelectrolytes are not ionizable in their molten form.
- The electrolytes used in the measurement of the standard electrode potential; on the other hand, nonelectrolytes are not used in the measurement of standard electrode potential.
- Electric current conduction is possible in electrolytes; on the other hand, the conduction of electric current is not possible in non-electrolytes.
- The electrolyte bond is very weak and can be easily broken during the conduction of electric current; on the other hand, the electrolyte bond is a very strong bond that cannot be broken in the conduction of electric current.
- The base, acid, and salts are called electrolytes; on the other hand, carbohydrates, fats, lipids, sugars and organic compounds called non-electrolytes.
- Electrolytes are the basic polar compounds; On the other hand, nonelectrolytes are the basic nonpolar compounds.
- Pure water not included in electrolytes; on the other hand, pure water can be included in the non-electrolytes.
- The conduction capacity of the electrolyte solution increases with the increase in the amount of electrolytes, while the concentration of non-electrolytes has nothing to do with the conductivities.
- The example of electrolytes is potassium ion, sodium ions, etc. while the example of non-electrolytes is sugar, fats, organic compounds, etc.
The above discussion concludes that both electrolytes and nonelectrolytes are chemical compounds. Electrolytes are the chemical compounds that dissociate in the water solution to form the positive and negative ions, while non-electrolytes are the chemical compounds that do not dissociate in the water solution to form the positive and negative ions.