Electrolytes and Nonelectrolytes in Water

This simulation shows how salts, acids, bases, and molecular substances behave in water. Charged particles that can move through the solution allow electricity to flow.

Positive ion

Negative ion

Neutral molecule

Water molecule

Choose a substance: Sodium chloride, NaCl — strong electrolyte Calcium chloride, CaCl₂ — strong electrolyte Hydrochloric acid, HCl — strong electrolyte acid Sodium hydroxide, NaOH — strong electrolyte base Acetic acid, HC₂H₃O₂ — weak electrolyte acid Ammonia, NH₃ — weak electrolyte base Sugar, C₁₂H₂₂O₁₁ — nonelectrolyte Ethanol, C₂H₅OH — nonelectrolyte

Amount of solute added:

More dissolved particles can increase conductivity if charged particles are produced.

Add / Reset Solute

Type: Strong electrolyte

Behavior: Dissociates into many moving ions.

Bulb: Bright

Conductivity meter:

High conductivity

Particle-level idea:

Strong electrolytes separate into many positive and negative ions. These moving charged particles carry electric charge through the solution.

Dissociation / ionization model

NaCl(s) → Na⁺(aq) + Cl⁻(aq)

How charge moves

The solution conducts electricity when positive and negative ions move through the water. More moving ions means greater conductivity.

Key comparison

Electrolytes form ions in water. Nonelectrolytes dissolve as neutral molecules, so they do not provide moving charged particles to conduct electricity.