Acetone, CH₃COCH₃, is a nonelectrolyte; hypochlorous acid, HClO, is a weak electrolyte; and ammonium chloride, NH₄Cl, is a strong electrolyte. (a) What are the solutes present in aqueous solutions of each compound? What solute particles are present in an aqueous solution of CH₃COCH₃?

Verified step by step guidance

1. Identify the type of electrolyte for each compound: Acetone (CH_3COCH_3) is a nonelectrolyte, hypochlorous acid (HClO) is a weak electrolyte, and ammonium chloride (NH_4Cl) is a strong electrolyte.
2. For nonelectrolytes like acetone, recognize that they do not dissociate into ions in solution. Therefore, the solute particles present are the intact acetone molecules, CH_3COCH_3.
3. For weak electrolytes like hypochlorous acid, understand that they partially dissociate in solution. The solute particles present are a mixture of HClO molecules and a small amount of H^+ and ClO^- ions.
4. For strong electrolytes like ammonium chloride, note that they completely dissociate into ions in solution. The solute particles present are NH_4^+ and Cl^- ions.
5. Summarize the solute particles for each solution: CH_3COCH_3 molecules for acetone, HClO molecules and H^+ and ClO^- ions for hypochlorous acid, and NH_4^+ and Cl^- ions for ammonium chloride.

Key Concepts

Electrolytes vs. Nonelectrolytes

Electrolytes are substances that dissociate into ions when dissolved in water, allowing the solution to conduct electricity. Strong electrolytes, like ammonium chloride, completely dissociate into ions, while weak electrolytes, such as hypochlorous acid, only partially dissociate. Nonelectrolytes, like acetone, do not dissociate into ions in solution and therefore do not conduct electricity.

Dissociation of Solutes

Dissociation refers to the process by which a compound separates into its constituent ions or molecules when dissolved in a solvent. For example, NH4Cl dissociates into NH4+ and Cl- ions in solution, while HClO partially dissociates into H+ and ClO- ions. In contrast, acetone remains as intact CH3COCH3 molecules in solution, illustrating the differences in behavior among electrolytes and nonelectrolytes.

Aqueous Solutions

An aqueous solution is a solution in which water is the solvent. The properties of solutes in aqueous solutions depend on their nature—whether they are electrolytes or nonelectrolytes. Understanding the solute particles present in these solutions is crucial for predicting their chemical behavior, such as conductivity and reactivity, which varies significantly between different types of solutes.