Question

A solution of hcl in water conducts electricity, but a solution of hcl in chloroform, chcl3, does not. what does this observation tell you about how hcl exists in water and how it exists in chloroform?

Answer 1

Hydrochloric acid (HCl) dissociate on positive ions or cations of hydogen (H⁺) and negative ions or anions of chlorine (Cl⁻). When there is free cations and ions, water solution can conduct electricity. Chloroform do not dissociate on ions in water, because that is not polar molecule, so chloroform is in molecular form in solution.

Answer 2

Explanation:

A polar covalent bond is formed due to unequal sharing of electrons between the combining atoms.

For example, HCl is a polar covalent compound.

This is because of the difference in electronegativities of both hydrogen and chlorine, partial opposite charges tend to develop on the hydrogen and chlorine atoms.

Whereas $CHCl_{3}$ is a non-polar compound and when HCl is added to it then HCl being polar in nature is unable to dissolve.

On the other hand, water is a polar compound and when HCl is dissolved in it then it will dissociate into hydrogen and chlorine ions.

As electricity is the flow of ions or electrons. Therefore, HCl in water is able to conduct electricity because it dissociates into ions.

Therefore, we can conclude that HCl in water exists as $H^{+}$ and $Cl^{-}$ ions. And, HCl in $CHCl_{3}$ exists as HCl.