Question

In an electrolyte $3.2\times {{10}^{18}}$ bivalent positive ions drift to the right per second while $3.6\times {{10}^{18}}$ monovalent negative ions drift to the left per second. The current through the electrolyte is?
A. 0.45 A to the left
B. 0.45 A to the right
C. 1.6 A to the right
D. 1.6 A to the left

Answer 1

Electrolyte is defined as a substance that produces a solution which possesses the ability to conduct electricity. We know that for an electric current to flow through the given substance, there must be flow of electrons across it. But in case of electrolytes the flow of current is because of ions- cations and anions. The electrolyte gets separated into cations and anions.

Complete step by step answer:
Here, we are given two types of ions- one is positive and the other are negative, but the twist is positive ions are bivalent which means the charge is two times and the other are monovalent negative ions.Charge on ions is equal to the charge on electrons or the charge on the proton.
So, current can be given by: I= net charge transported per second
$\Rightarrow I=(3.2\times {{10}^{18}}\times 2e)+(3.6\times {{10}^{18}}\times e) \\\ \Rightarrow I=(6.4+3.6)\times {{10}^{18}}\times 1.6\times {{10}^{-19}} \\\ \therefore I=1.6A$
And the flow of current is from left to the right.

Hence, option C is the correct answer.

Additional information:
An electrolyte is defined as the substance that produces an electrically conducting solution when it is dissolved in a polar solvent. When the electrolyte dissolves, it gets separated into cations and anions and this dispersion is uniform throughout the solvent. Acids, bases, and salts are the most commonly known electrolytes.

Note: In case of electrolyte the direction of flow of current, is from cathode to anode. The cations, positive ions, flow toward the cathode & The anions, negative ions, flow toward the anode. So the direction in this problem is from left to the right. If the cations were monovalent then we would have not multiplied by 2.