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In this video, I will show you how to use Table F of the Chemistry Reference Tables.
Based on Reference Table F, which of these salts is the best electrolyte?
An electrolyte is substance that conducts electricity when dissolved in water, so if
something dissolves in water, we say it is soluble.
And that's exactly what Table F tells us, whether something is soluble or insoluble.
Let's see how this works with the first choice, sodium nitrate.
Find the 2nd part of the compound on Table F first.
Since nitrate is listed in the "Ions that form soluble compounds" column, so far, we
can say that sodium nitrate is soluble.
But that's not enough! We need to see if sodium is listed as an exception, which it isn't
so the compound remains soluble.
When we do the same thing with magnesium carbonate, we see that carbonate is listed as an ion
that forms an insoluble compound making it insoluble to start.
And since magnesium is not listed as an exception, magnesium carbonate remains as an insoluble
compound.
Repeating the same steps for silver chloride, we see that chloride is disguised as a halide
but never-the-less, is a soluble ion.
Except, though, when combined with silver, reversing its solubility in water to become
insoluble.
And for the same reason, barium sulfate is insoluble in water because even though sulfate
is soluble, it becomes insoluble when combined with barium, making choice one the correct
answer.
Although this question asked which salt is the best electrolyte, it could have just as
easily asked which salt is the most soluble or even, most concentrated since only one
choice will be soluble meanwhile the other three will be insoluble.
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