scilearner Posted April 10, 2010 Share Posted April 10, 2010 Ok so when I pass electricty through salt water the negative ions move from highly negative area to positive area causing a current? My question is why do the move? Let's say there was Sodium and Chloride ions in water. Can't the chloride ion give an electron to sodium and make the whole solution deionized, why do they choose to move instead? Thank you Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr Skeptic Posted April 10, 2010 Share Posted April 10, 2010 Sodium has one excess electron (as a group 1 metal) whereas chlorine is missing one electron (as a halogen). Atoms are much more stable when they have a full (or empty) shell of electrons. Furthermore, in water, ions are surrounded by a group of water molecules. The water molecules are polar and help to stabilize the ions. Basically, in water the atoms have lower energy when they are ionized so they become ionized. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scilearner Posted April 11, 2010 Author Share Posted April 11, 2010 Sodium has one excess electron (as a group 1 metal) whereas chlorine is missing one electron (as a halogen). Atoms are much more stable when they have a full (or empty) shell of electrons. Furthermore, in water, ions are surrounded by a group of water molecules. The water molecules are polar and help to stabilize the ions. Basically, in water the atoms have lower energy when they are ionized so they become ionized. Thanks for the help Skeptic I can understand why they would stay as ionized now, but I have a question about the reaction that occur in the cathode and anode. I can understand how reduction reaction can occur in the catode because they supply electrons at that end, but in the anode what make the ion lose its electrons thanks Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Newbies_Kid Posted April 12, 2010 Share Posted April 12, 2010 I don't know how to start my explanation but i'm certainly sure this is related to what we call electromotive force (EMF).. http://www.science.uwaterloo.ca/~cchieh/cact/c123/emf.html Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rooshidavid Posted April 22, 2010 Share Posted April 22, 2010 The answer of this question is very simple. Salt and water are an ionic substance so they posses both negative and positive ions. Also salty water is a very good electrolyte. Hence electricity conducted through salt water. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
insane_alien Posted April 22, 2010 Share Posted April 22, 2010 water is not an ionic substance. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Greippi Posted April 22, 2010 Share Posted April 22, 2010 water is not an ionic substance. Although it is in equilibrium between H2O and H+ and OH- Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
insane_alien Posted April 22, 2010 Share Posted April 22, 2010 only because its one of the few things capable of dissolving itself. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
khaled Posted April 22, 2010 Share Posted April 22, 2010 since electricity is the movement of electrons, when one has excessive electrons they can lose in continuous exchange, which is electricity ... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
insane_alien Posted April 22, 2010 Share Posted April 22, 2010 khaled, is there a language barrier here or something? it seems like english isn't your first language. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
khaled Posted April 23, 2010 Share Posted April 23, 2010 it's not my first language, im actually an Arabic scientist Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now