How does a conductivity apparatus test whether a solution has ionic or covalent substances in it?

Covalent compounds are those which are made up by sharing of electrons between them and the electro-negativity of the elements which form covalent compounds are nearly same that is they are generally non-polar in nature whereas ionic compounds are formed by complete transfer of electrons from one element to the other and thus resulting in formation of ions of opposite charges that is cation (with positive charge) and anion (with negative charge). There is a large difference in electronegativity of the element involved in the formation of ionic compounds. They are held together by electrostatic force of attraction between them.

The conductivity of a substance is determined by the flow of electric charge. When the charged particles move that are present in the ionic compounds only in the conductivity apparatus they complete the circuit by the flow of electrons.Hence, a conductivity apparatus test whether a solution has ionic or covalent substances in it as ions complete the flow of electrons to form a circuit.

ysabayomi ysabayomi · Answer 2 · 2020-02-12T12:59:48+01:00

Answer:

Explanation:

Covalent compounds are formed as a result of sharing of electrons (called shared pair) between the constituent atoms. One of the properties of covalent compounds is that they are poor conductors of electricity as they do not allow the passage of electricity through them.

Ionic compounds are formed as a result of the transfer of electrons. Here, one atom transfers its valence electron(s) to become positively charged (cations) while the other receives the transferred electron(s) to become negatively charged (anions). When ionic compounds/substances are dissolved in water, these charged particles carry electric charges when electricity is passed through them hence they are good conductors of electricity when dissolved in water. Solutions that allow for the passage of electric current in it are called electrolytes.

It is these ions in the electrolyte that allow for conduction in conductivity apparatus. When electric current is passed in the conductivity apparatus, the presence of ions (in the electrolyte) help to carry the electric current and hence completes the conductivity apparatus circuit. However, if the solution is a covalent solution, electric current is not passed and the circuit is not completed.

if the conductivity apparatus have a light bulb, when the circuit is completed, the bulb becomes lit (due to the passage of electric current in the solution) but when the circuit is not completed, the bulb is not lit (as a result of non-passage of electric current).