Electrolyte (Gr. Electron - Amber, Cast - Soluble)
Electrolytes are substances that dissociate in solution into charged particles - ions, thanks to which the solution acquires the ability to conduct electric current. Thus, electrolytes are an important component of many electrical devices and processes, including batteries, accumulators, electrolysis, electrodeposition, and others.
The ions formed during the dissociation of electrolytes have a negative or positive charge and are usually surrounded by solvent molecules. These ions can move in a solution under the influence of an electric field, which determines the solution's ability to conduct electric current.
There are two types of electrolytes: weak and strong. Strong electrolytes dissociate almost completely in solution, while weak electrolytes dissociate only partially. Examples of strong electrolytes are acids, alkalis and salts, while weak electrolytes include many organic acids and bases.
Electrons can also be bound to electrolytes. They are called mobile electrons and are found in a system of conjugated single and double bonds. Mobile electrons do not belong to one atom or one bond, but to the conjugated system as a whole. They play an important role in electrophilic substitution and electron transfer reactions.
It is important to note that electrolytes can be either liquid or solid. Some solid electrolytes are used in batteries and accumulators, where they serve to separate charges and provide electrical conductivity.
In conclusion, electrolytes play an important role in many processes involving electricity. They have the ability to dissociate in solution into ions, which provide conductivity of the solution. Electrolytes can be either liquid or solid substances, and they are widely used in a variety of electrical devices and processes.