Chemistry Examples: Strong and Weak Electrolytes

A scientist conducts an electrical conductivity test

 U.S. Army Corps of Engineers / Flickr / CC by 2.0
By
Anne Marie Helmenstine, Ph.D.
Anne Marie Helmenstine, Ph.D.
Chemistry Expert
  • Ph.D., Biomedical Sciences, University of Tennessee at Knoxville
  • B.A., Physics and Mathematics, Hastings College
Dr. Helmenstine holds a Ph.D. in biomedical sciences and is a science writer, educator, and consultant. She has taught science courses at the high school, college, and graduate levels.
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Updated on August 06, 2019

Electrolytes are chemicals that break into ions in water. Aqueous solutions containing electrolytes conduct electricity.

Strong Electrolytes

Model of sulfuric acid
Model of sulfuric acid.

 MOLEKUUL / Getty Images

Strong electrolytes include the strong acids, strong bases, and salts. These chemicals completely dissociate into ions in aqueous solution.

Molecular Examples

  • HCl - hydrochloric acid
  • HBr - hydrobromic acid
  • HI - hydroiodic acid
  • NaOH - sodium hydroxide
  • Sr(OH)2 - strontium hydroxide
  • NaCl - sodium chloride
Potassium hydroxide is an example of a strong electrolyte. In water, it dissociates completely into its ions.
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Strong Electrolyte Definition and Examples
By Anne Marie Helmenstine, Ph.D.

Weak Electrolytes

Model of ammonia
Model of ammonia. Dorling Kindersley / Getty Images

Weak electrolytes only partially break into ions in water. Weak electrolytes include weak acids, weak bases, and a variety of other compounds. Most compounds that contain nitrogen are weak electrolytes.

Molecular Examples

  • HF - hydrofluoric acid
  • CH3CO2H - acetic acid
  • NH3 - ammonia
  • H2O - water (weakly dissociates in itself)

Nonelectrolytes

Glucose molecule model

 PASIEKA / Getty Images

Nonelectrolytes do not break into ions in water. Common examples include most carbon compounds, such as sugars, fats, and alcohols.

Molecular Examples

  • CH3OH - methyl alcohol
  • C2H5OH - ethyl alcohol
  • C6H12O6 - glucose
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Helmenstine, Anne Marie, Ph.D. "Chemistry Examples: Strong and Weak Electrolytes." ThoughtCo, Aug. 28, 2020, thoughtco.com/strong-and-weak-electrolytes-609437. Helmenstine, Anne Marie, Ph.D. (2020, August 28). Chemistry Examples: Strong and Weak Electrolytes. Retrieved from https://www.thoughtco.com/strong-and-weak-electrolytes-609437 Helmenstine, Anne Marie, Ph.D. "Chemistry Examples: Strong and Weak Electrolytes." ThoughtCo. https://www.thoughtco.com/strong-and-weak-electrolytes-609437 (accessed April 26, 2024).