Question

Which statement below best describes the electrolyte behavior of CO32-?

a) CO32- is a strong electrolyte
b) CO32- is a weak electrolyte
c) CO32- is a non-electrolyte
d) CO32- is a cation

Answer 1

CO3^2- is considered a weak electrolyte because it partially dissociates into ions when reacting with water.

Step-by-step explanation:

The electrolyte behavior of CO32- is best described as a weak electrolyte. While ionic compounds generally dissociate into ions almost completely in water and are thus considered strong electrolytes, the weak electrolyte behavior refers to the fact that the polyatomic ion reacts with water only to a limited extent. For example, carbonate ions (CO32-) when reacting with water produce a small amount of carbonic acid (H2CO3), which is a weak acid that does not fully dissociate into ions in solution. Therefore, although CO32- is an ion, its behavior in water corresponds to weak electrolytic strength, with only partial dissociation into ions.