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ChemistryClass 12 (Maharashtra HSC)

Why does the conductivity of an electrolyte change when we dilute it?

In the electrochemistry chapter molar conductivity increases on dilution but specific conductivity decreases. I find this contradictory and hard to remember.

Asked by Ananya Sharma 46 45d ago
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1 answer

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The two quantities measure different things, so they move in opposite directions. Specific conductivity (conductivity per unit volume) decreases on dilution because as you add water, the number of current-carrying ions in each unit volume falls, so a given cubic centimetre conducts less. Molar conductivity, however, is the conductivity of all the ions coming from one mole of electrolyte, no matter the volume. On dilution, a weak electrolyte ionises more and the ions move more freely with less interference between them, so the total contribution per mole increases. So both observations are correct: per volume, conductivity drops because ions are spread thinner; per mole, it rises because more ions are free and active. Keep clear which basis, volume or mole, each term uses and the contradiction disappears.

D
Deepak Kulkarni
355 pts· 45d ago

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