|
Home
Table of Contents
Keyword Index
Textbook X-ref
Search
About CCA!
|
 |
| |
Click a thumbnail picture below to view a larger version. |

View Movie |
|
Narrative
A conductivity apparatus demonstrates that water is a very poor conductor of electricity. An aqueous solution 0.1M acetic acid is a very weak electrolyte as shown by its poor conductance. A 0.1M aqueous solution ammonia is also a very weak electrolyte as shown by its low conductivity. When aqueous solutions of acetic acid and ammonia are mixed, the resulting neutralization reaction produces the highly ionized salt of ammonium acetate which is an excellent conductor of electricity.
Discussion
The neutralization of a weak acid, acetic acid, by a weak base, aqueous ammonia, is demonstrated. The nonconductance of water is compared to the poor conductance of 0.1M acetic acid and 0.1M aqueous ammonia. However, when the acetic acid and ammonia are mixed, the resulting solution of ammonium acetate is a very good conductor.
|