Answer:
Hydrogen chloride (HCl) is a covalent compound, meaning it shares electrons between atoms to form a bond. However, when HCl is dissolved in water, it dissociates into H+ and Cl- ions through a process called ionization. This ionization occurs because water is a polar solvent, meaning it has a partial positive charge on one end and a partial negative charge on the other end. The positive end of water molecules attracts the negatively charged Cl- ion, while the negative end of water molecules attracts the positively charged H+ ion, causing HCl to dissociate.
The ionization of HCl in water allows it to conduct electricity because the H+ and Cl- ions are free to move and carry electrical charge. This is why HCl is considered an electrolyte when dissolved in water, despite being covalent in its pure form.
In contrast, acetic acid (CH3COOH) is also a covalent compound that can ionize in water to some extent. However, it does not fully dissociate into ions like HCl does, meaning its conductivity in water is lower than that of HCl.
The difference in conductivity between HCl and acetic acid can be explained by their respective acid strengths. HCl is a strong acid, meaning it readily donates its H+ ion in water, while acetic acid is a weak acid, meaning it only partially dissociates in water. The more ions that are present in a solution, the higher its conductivity, so the stronger acid (HCl) has higher conductivity than the weaker acid (acetic acid).