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When methanol, CH₃OH, is dissolved in water, a conducting solution results. What does this suggest about methanol?

A) Methanol is an ionic compound
B) Methanol is a strong electrolyte
C) Methanol is a weak electrolyte
D) Methanol does not dissolve in water

1 Answer

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Final answer:

Methanol (CH3OH) forms a conducting solution when dissolved in water, indicating it is a weak electrolyte due to minimal ionization, rather than being an ionic compound or a strong electrolyte.

Step-by-step explanation:

When methanol (CH₃OH) is dissolved in water, it does form a conducting solution; however, this does not mean it is an ionic compound or a strong electrolyte. Methanol is a polar organic compound due to the presence of the hydroxyl (-OH) group and is miscible with water, creating a solution that can conduct electricity to some extent. Yet, since methanol molecules do not dissociate into ions in solution, it is neither an acid nor a base and does not generate a significant number of ions. Thus, methanol does not fit the characteristics of a strong electrolyte, which dissociates completely into ions.

Considering the options given, the correct answer would be that methanol is a weak electrolyte (Option C). This is because it can conduct an electric current due to the small amount of ionization that occurs, but not as extensively as strong electrolytes which completely dissociate to produce ions in solution.

User Artur Vartanyan
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