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Acetic Acid is a weak electrolyte becau...

Acetic Acid is a weak electrolyte because:

A

Its molecular weight is high

B

It is covalent compound

C

It does not dissociate much or its ionization is very less

D

It is highly unstable

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### Step-by-Step Solution: 1. **Define Weak Electrolyte**: A weak electrolyte is a substance that does not completely dissociate into its ions in solution. This means that when it is dissolved in water, only a small fraction of the molecules ionize. 2. **Identify Acetic Acid**: Acetic acid (CH₃COOH) is a common example of a weak electrolyte. 3. **Dissociation of Acetic Acid**: When acetic acid is dissolved in water, it dissociates into acetate ions (CH₃COO⁻) and hydrogen ions (H⁺). However, this dissociation is not complete. \[ \text{CH}_3\text{COOH} \rightleftharpoons \text{CH}_3\text{COO}^- + \text{H}^+ \] 4. **Degree of Dissociation**: The degree of dissociation of acetic acid is low, meaning that only a small percentage of acetic acid molecules ionize in solution. This is what characterizes it as a weak acid. 5. **Evaluate Other Options**: - High molecular weight: This is not a valid reason for being a weak electrolyte. - Covalent compound: Acetic acid is not purely ionic; it has covalent characteristics but does dissociate into ions. - Stability: The stability of the compound does not determine whether it is a weak or strong electrolyte. 6. **Conclusion**: The primary reason acetic acid is considered a weak electrolyte is that it does not dissociate much into its ions in solution. ### Final Answer: Acetic acid is a weak electrolyte because it does not dissociate much into its ions (CH₃COO⁻ and H⁺) when dissolved in water. ---
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Knowledge Check

  • Acetic acid is a weak acid because

    A
    It is an organic acid
    B
    It is a monobasic acid
    C
    It is unstable
    D
    It is slightly ionized
  • Acetic acid is a weak acid because

    A
    It is an organic acid
    B
    It is a monobasic acid
    C
    It is unstable
    D
    It is slightly ionized
  • Acetic acid is a weak acid because

    A
    It is an organic acid
    B
    It is a monobasic acid
    C
    It is unstable
    D
    It is slightly ionized
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