Question

What is the difference between weak and strong electrolytes?

Answer 1

We need to know that an electrolyte is a substance that dissociates in water into charged particles called ions. Positively charged ions are called cations. Negatively charged ions are called anions. Simply, an electrolyte is a substance that can conduct an electric current when melted or dissolved in water.

Complete answer:
We have to remember that the electrolytes are classified into two types which are strong electrolyte and weak electrolytes.
Strong Electrolytes – Electrolytes are chemical species that conduct electricity when dissolved in solution.
Weak electrolytes – An electrolyte that ionizes to a small extent in solution is called weak electrolyte.
In strong electrolytes, the electrolytes are completely ionized and in weak electrolytes, the electrolytes are partially ionized. The extension of ionization is more in case of strong electrolytes while extension of ionization is less in case of weak electrolytes. Weak electrolytes have low electrical conductivity while strong electrolytes have high electrical conductivity. Ostwald’s dilution law is applicable in a case of weak electrolyte while it is applicable in case of strong electrolyte.
$HCl,{H_2}S{O_4},HN{O_3}$ are strong electrolyte while $H{C_2}{H_3}{O_2}$ (acetic acid), ${H_2}C{O_3}$ (carbonic acid), $N{H_3}$ (ammonia)are weak electrolytes. A weak electrolyte is a solution in which only a small fraction of the dissolved solute exists as ions. A strong electrolyte is a solution in which a large fraction of the dissolved solute exists as ions.

Note:
We need to know that electrolysis is the process of passing an electric current through a substance in the molten or aqueous state thereby decomposing it. Electrodes, electrolytes and salt solution are the major components involved in the process of electrolysis. Electrolyte plays a major role in the process.