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Topic: Conductivity of acids vs bases  (Read 2029 times)

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Offline Molly98

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Conductivity of acids vs bases
« on: October 26, 2015, 01:30:33 AM »
Why are acidic solutions better conductors than basic solutions? I watched a video that said it was because H+ is smaller than OH-, ( therefore can move more easily) but if acid is actually H3O+ (hydronium) that would be a bigger molecule than OH-..?
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Offline Borek

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Re: Conductivity of acids vs bases
« Reply #1 on: October 26, 2015, 03:29:41 AM »
H+ can "jump" between water molecules:

H3O+ + H2O :rarrow: H2O + H3O+

which makes its transport through the solution quite fast.
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Offline Molly98

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Re: Conductivity of acids vs bases
« Reply #2 on: October 26, 2015, 04:40:39 PM »
Thanks!




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Offline Enthalpy

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Re: Conductivity of acids vs bases
« Reply #3 on: October 28, 2015, 12:01:41 PM »
And H3O+ and OH- are themselves simplified representations. Any aqueous ion is surrounded by many water molecules.
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