We can recognize examples of weak electrolytes from a test that when the solution given with an electric current only produces little bubbles. Before searching for information about list of weak electrolyte examples, let us briefly recall the notion of weak electrolytes.
What is that actually? Weak electrolyte is a solution in which the ions are not fully ionized. Thus, in this weak electrolyte, ion particles are ionized and the remainder forms unionized molecules. Which means that in this weak electrolyte electricity is delivered only in small quantities.
List of Weak Electrolyte Examples Around Us
Well, that’s a quick glance recalling about the notion of weak electrolyte. Now let’s discuss some examples of weak electrolytes:
1. Fluoride Acid
This fluoride acid in gas or colorless fluid is commonly used as a dilute solution called hydrofluoric acid, but it is also a major source of fluorine industry. Fluoride acid is widely used as super acid in petrochemicals industries.
Fluoride acid as also commonly called Hydrogen Fluoride is somewhat included in the type of highly hazardous gas due to its corrosive characteristic. In addition, this gas can also damage the cornea quickly which can cause blindness.
- Chemical formula: HF
- Ionization Reactions: HF → F– + H +
2. Acetic Acid
Besides being called as Acetic Acid, some people also refer to it as Etanoic Acid, or also as Vinegar. This type of acidic chemical compound is widely used in daily life as sour flavor and aroma in cooking.
Acetic acid is included as quite important chemical reagent and industrial raw materials. It is used in production of polymers such as cellulose acetate and polyvinyl acetate, among others.
- Chemical formula: CH3COOH
- Ionization Reaction: COOH → CH3COO– + H+
3. Carbonic acid
It is an organic acid compound used to regulate the level of acidity in the blood. When we discuss it more deeply, the blood itself is a solution that can maintain acidity level by using carbonic acid which then ionizes in water to form H+ ions and its conjunction base in bicarbonate ions.
Carbonic acid is widely used in carbonated beverages such as soft drinks. Although this carbonic acid includes a weak acid, but if consumed continuously, it will be able to result in tooth decay or gastric irritation.
- Chemical formula: H2C03
- Ionization Reactions: H2C03 → CO33- + 2H
4. Phosphoric Acid
This type of compound is commonly referred to as orthophosphoric acid (V) which is an acidic organic compound. These orthophosphate molecules fuse themselves to form a compound which is also referred to as phosphoric acid.
In a hot state, phosphoric acid is used in micro-fabrication as silicon nitride which acts as a flux to facilitate the soldering process. In addition, it can also be used in hydroponic plants as it can be nutritional solution.
Electrolyte photat acid solution can be used as electro-polishing copper electrolytic to remove thorns. In addition, phosphoric acid is also widely used in various cosmetics and skin care products.
- Chemical formula: H3PO4
- Ionization Reactions: H3PO4 → PO43- + 3H+
5. Hydrogen Sulfide
It is colorless, yet toxic and flammable gas with rotten eggs-like smells. This gas can be formed due to biological activity when bacteria breaks down organic substances in non-oxygen state or it is commonly called as anaerobic activity. Examples of hydrogen sulfide can be found as in sewerage channels.
Hydrogen sulfide is heavier than air that it is more likely to collect and settle in a lower area. This type of compound is also corrosive that it is able to convert certain metals into rusty. In low concentration, this compound will smell like rotten eggs that in the long term it will be able to paralyze the human olfactory senses.
- Chemical formula: H2S
- Ionization Reactions: H2S → S2- + 2H+
6. Nitrite Acid
Nitric Acid is a kind of corrosive and colorless liquid. This acid is included in type of toxic acid that can cause burns. As a solution, 86% of the solution content is nitric acid.
The solution as commonly referred to as smoky nitric acid can also be subdivided into two types of acid which are white smoky nitric acid and red smoky nitric acid.
Nitric acid solutions are commonly used to produce explosive materials such as nitroglycerin, trinitrotene (TNT) and cyclotrimethylenatrinitramine (RDX).
- Chemical formula: HNO2
- Ionization Reactions: HNO2 → N02- + H+
7. Benzoic acid
It is the simplest aromatic carboxylic acid in white, acidic crystalline solid. This benzoic acid as referred to as weak acid and its derivative salt is commonly used as food preservative and also an important precursor in synthesis.
In addition to being used as food preservative, benzoic acid as an example of weak electrolytes can also be used in manufacture of cosmetics as well as insect repellents.
- Chemical formula: C6H5COOH
- Ionization Reactions: C6H5COOH → C6H5COO– + H+
8. Aluminum Hydroxide
It is a base type that can be used as a flocculent in water, sewage treatment and acid soil treatment. Aluminum hydroxide may also act as chemical reagent and alkaline agent which acts to replace sodium hydroxide. Aluminum Hydroxide is used as medicine for production of excess acid in the stomach.
- Chemical formula: Al(OH)3
- Ionization Reactions: Al(OH)3 (aq) → Al3+ (aq) + 3OH– (aq)
You may also read: Health Benefits of Food Grade Hydrogen Peroxide
9. Ammonium Hydroxide
It is commonly referred to as ammonia solution, ammonia water, diluted ammonia, aqueous ammonia, aqua ammonia, ammonia solution. However, it can simply be referred to as ammonia. In daily life, ammonium hydroxide is used in household cleaners, alkyl amines, tobacco management, furniture darkening and many others.
In the laboratory, ammonium hydroxide used in traditional qualitative inorganic analyzes used as complexes and bases.
- Chemical formula: NH4OH
- Ionization Reactions: NH4OH(aq) → NH4+ (aq) + OH– (aq)
10. Anilina
It is also generally referred to as phenylamine or aminobenzene. The content in aniline is an amine group, with aniline characteristics of liquid at room temperature, colorless, volatile and cause unpleasant odors such as rotten fish.
In daily life, aniline is widely used as a dye, raw material of producing various drugs such as antipirina and antifebrin. However, frequent use of aniline can also be harmful as it can cause nausea, vomiting, dizziness and headaches. In addition, some experts also mentioned that excessive use of aniline can also lead to insomnia.
Chemical formula: C6H5NH2
11. Phenol
Phenol or also commonly referred to as carbolic acid is colorless crystalline solid. In daily life phenol is commonly used as a material to sterilize the surgical equipment. In addition phenol is also used in manufacture of drugs, synthetic resins and polymers. However, it is required to be highly careful in using phenol in case of misapplication that it can cause skin irritation.
Chemical formula: C6H5OH
12. Boric Acid
Boric acid or commonly referred to as hydrogen borate, borax acid, orthoboric acid, and acidium boricum is a weak Lewis boron acid monobasic which is quite often used as antiseptic, insecticide, neutron absorber or precursor for other chemical compounds.
In the medical, boric acid is commonly used as antiseptic for mild burns and as bandage or ointment. In the case of preservation, boric acid can be used to prevent and destroy wet and dry decay on wood.
Chemical formula: H3BO3
You may also read: Acid in Water Reaction
13. Urea
It is a type of organic compound with a formation consisting of carbon, hydrogen, oxygen and nitrogen. In the body, urea is formed by oxidation process in the liver that comes out together with urine and feces. In daily life urea is commonly used as chemical fertilizer.
Chemical formula: H2NCONH2
You may also read: Differences between Acid, Base and Salt
14. Ammonia
It is a gas compound with distinctive sharp odor (commonly called as ammonia smell). Although ammonia basically has an important role for the existence of nutrients on earth, but ammonia itself is included in caustic compounds that can cause detrimental effect to the health. In addition to having characteristic of colorless and sharp smell, ammonia is also corrosive to copper and lead.
Ammonia is commonly used as drugs, mixtures for urea fertilizers, ammonium chloride-making materials in batteries, nitric acid, refrigerants, hydrazine-making materials as rocket fuel, and basic substance for manufacture of explosives materials, plastic paper and detergents. In the cosmetics, ammonia is used as a mixture of hair dye and hair straightener.
Chemical formula: NH3
You may also read: Acid Solution Examples
15. Formic Acid
It is the simplest carboxylic acid usually found in bee sting and ants that it is commonly referred to as formic acid (ants’ acid). This formic acid is considered important as acid compounds in many synthesis of chemicals.
In nature, many formic acids are produced by insects from the Hymenoptera, such as bees and ants as an attack or defense tool. In addition, formic acid is also the result of significant combustion of alternative fuels, which is combustion of methanol mixed with gasoline.
Chemical formula: HCOOH
List of weak electrolyte examples can generally be formed from weak acids or bases as well. Which means, when acid or weak base is mixed with the solvent, then only part of the solute will ionize the process, while the rest will be molecules.
In daily life, in order to determine whether or not that the solution is included in weak electrolyte, it can be observed in weak electrolyte characteristics of weak electrical conductivity. This can be easily verified by using electronic test device that you can make it yourself by using basic materials of batteries, cables and lamps.
If the solution you were testing turns the lights on but dimmed and the bubbles come up, it means that it is included in weak electrolyte solution. The dimmed lamps and bubbles indicate that electrical conductivity of the solution is fairly weak. And the generated bubbles will seem scarce, as indeed the resulting ion is short.