What Happens When a Weakly Dissociating Compound is Exposed to an Electric Current?

Question:

A compound that dissociates weakly is exposed to an electric current attached to a light bulb. What do you expect will happen?

A. Light bulb lights dimly

B. Light bulb lights brightly

C. Light bulb does not light

Answer:

A weakly dissociating compound is a weak electrolyte and provides fewer ions to conduct electricity, so the light bulb will light dimly. The correct option is A.

If a compound that dissociates weakly is exposed to an electric current attached to a light bulb, it means the compound is a weak electrolyte.

Weak electrolytes do not completely dissociate into ions; therefore, they have fewer charge carriers available to conduct electricity. As a result, the light bulb connected to the circuit will light up, but only dimly.

This is because the electric current conducted by the weak electrolyte is not as strong as it would be if the solution contained a strong electrolyte, which dissociates completely, providing more ions to carry the current. Option A. is the correct one.