how do two weak conductors like glacial acetic acid and ammonia form a strong conductor?

acetic acid is only slightly ionized. Ammonia is only slightly ionized. Therefore, there are few ions in either solution to conduct electricity. However, when they react, the product is ammonium acetate, which is a salt and a strong electrolyte. It ionizes 100%. Therefore, there are many ions to conduct the electricity.

thanks

To understand how two weak conductors like glacial acetic acid and ammonia can form a strong conductor, we need to look at the concept of electrolytes and ionization.

1. Glacial Acetic Acid (CH3COOH): Acetic acid is a weak acid. In its pure form (glacial acetic acid), it is a non-conductor of electricity. However, when it comes into contact with water, it undergoes partial ionization, breaking into ions. The reaction is as follows:
CH3COOH ↔ H+ + CH3COO-

The resulting H+ ions can carry an electric charge, making acetic acid a weak electrolyte.

2. Ammonia (NH3): Ammonia is a weak base. It can also undergo partial ionization in water, releasing hydroxide ions (OH-). The reaction is as follows:
NH3 + H2O ↔ NH4+ + OH-

The released OH- ions can also carry an electric charge, making ammonia a weak electrolyte.

When glacial acetic acid and ammonia are mixed together in water, they can form a strong conductor through a process called neutralization.

Neutralization occurs when the H+ ions from acetic acid react with the OH- ions from ammonia to form water molecules. The reaction is as follows:
H+ + OH- → H2O

As the H+ and OH- ions combine to form water, more ions are continuously released by the weak electrolytes, ensuring a continuous supply of charged particles in the solution.

The abundance of ions in the solution increases its electrical conductivity, making the overall conductivity stronger than the individual weak conductors. This solution is considered a strong conductor, even though the original components (glacial acetic acid and ammonia) were weak conductors on their own.

To understand how two weak conductors like glacial acetic acid and ammonia can form a strong conductor, we need to consider the concept of electrolytes and the dissociation of these substances in water.

Acetic acid (CH3COOH) and ammonia (NH3) are both weak electrolytes. In their pure form, they do not conduct electricity well. However, when dissolved in water, they undergo a process called dissociation, where they break down into ions that can carry electrical charge.

When acetic acid is dissolved in water, it dissociates into acetate ions (CH3COO-) and hydrogen ions (H+). Similarly, ammonia (NH3) reacts with water to form ammonium ions (NH4+) and hydroxide ions (OH-). These ions can move freely in the aqueous solution and allow the conduction of electric current.

When you mix glacial acetic acid and ammonia in water, both substances dissociate into their respective ions. The acetate ions (CH3COO-) and ammonium ions (NH4+) can move and carry the electric charge. This results in an increase in the concentration of ions in the solution, which subsequently enhances the conductivity.

It is important to note that the conductivity of the resulting solution is not as high as that of strong electrolytes like sodium chloride or sulfuric acid. However, the combination of glacial acetic acid and ammonia in water can form a stronger conductor compared to their individual conductivities.

In summary, when weak conductors like glacial acetic acid and ammonia are dissolved in water, the dissociation of these substances into ions increases their conductivity, allowing the formation of a stronger conductor.