An electrolyte is defined as a compound whose aqueous solution or melt conducts electricity. A compound whose aqueous solution or melt does not conduct electricity is called a non-electrolyte.
Types of Electrolytes
(1) A strong electrolyte is defined as a substance which dissociates almost completely into ions in aqueous solution and hence is a very good conductor of electricity e.g., NaOH, KOH, HCl, H2SO4, NaCl, KNO3 etc.
(2) A weak electrolyte is defined as a substance which dissociates to a small extent in aqueous solution and hence conducts electricity also to a small extent e.g. NH4OH, CH3COOH etc.
Degree of dissociation : The fraction of the total number amount of an electrolyte which dissociates into ions is called the degree of dissociation (a), a = (Number of molecules dissociate d) /(Total number of molecules )
Note : Isohydric solutions : These are the solutions of the weak electrolytes containing equal concentration of the common ion present in them, when such solutions are mixed no change in the degree of dissociation of either of the electrolyte occurs
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