Question

Sulfuric acid (H2SO4) and Ba(OH)2 solutions are strong electrolytes and give a bright glow on the light bulb of your conductivity apparatus. When Ba(OH)2 is added dropwise to H2SO4, a precipitate is formed and the light bulb of the conductivity apparatus dims and eventually fades completely.

Required:
a. Briefly explain this phenomenon.
b. Write the balanced equation of the reaction between these solutions.

Answer 1

Answer:

See Explanation

Explanation:

An electrolyte is a solution which is able to conduct electricity. An electrolyte conducts electricity because of the presence of ions which move around in the solution.

Ba(OH)2 and H2SO4 are composed of ions; these ions are the charge carriers in solution and are responsible for the conductivity of the solution and the glow of the bulb.

When Ba(OH)2 and H2SO4 are mixed, the following reaction occurs;

Ba(OH)2(aq) + H2SO4(aq) -------->BaSO4(s) + 2H2O(l)

The formation of the BaSO4(s) precipitate removes the ions that are responsible for the conductivity of the solution hence the  light bulb of the conductivity apparatus dims and eventually fades completely.