AIM

TO STUDY THE VARIATION OF ELECTRICAL

RESISTANCE OFFERED BY THE
ELECTROLYTE DUE TO CHANGE IN THE
CONCENTRATION OF ELECTROLYTE
SOLUTION

INTRODUCTION
ELECTROLYTES - Are substances which
allow the passage of electricity through
their molten state or their aqueous
solutions and allow chemical
decomposition at the same time eg. Acids
,bases and salts.

ELECTROLYTIC CONDUCTION - There is a

flow of electric current through the
electrolytes with the motion of ions which
are formed due to the dissociation of some
molecules of the electrolyte.

OHM’S LAW – It states that under constant

physical conditions such as temperature ,
pressure etc. the current flowing through
the conductor is directly proportional to
the potential difference across the two
ends of the conductor.

Mathematically,
V = IR

Where,
V = potential difference across the ends of
the conductor,
I = electric current through the conductor
and,
R=resistance offered to the path of the
electric current by the conductor
 Resistance vs. the
concentration of
electrolytes

Using appropriate electrolytes and keeping

the other factors constant , the
concentration of a particular
electrolyte(CuSo) was varied by intervals
of 1%. Readings of resistances
corresponding to different concentrations
ranging from 1-10% were taken.

Expected result – the resistance of the

electrolyte solution is expected to
decrease with increase in concentration.
With increase in concentration , the
number of ions due to dissociation of
electrolyte increases. Since the rate of
flow of charge is directly proportional to
the number of ions, hence conductivity of
the electrolyte increases and the
resistance of the electrolyte decreases.
Apparatus required :-
Key , rheostat , voltmeter ,ammeter ,
connecting wires , glass vessels , copper
electrodes , measuring cylinders , physical
balance , weights.

Procedure :-

1.Apparatus is set up as shown , the

vessel is cleaned and filled with 300ml
of water.
2.3gm of CuSo are weighed and
dissolved in water , hence obtaining a
concentration of 1%.
 3.When the solution settles down and a
constant temperature is attained,
current is passed and three sets of
readings of the voltmeter and
ammeter are taken by adjusting the
position of the rheostat after every set
of readings.
4. The concentration of the electrolyte is
increased to 2% by dissolving another
3gm of CuSo.
5.A set of three readings is taken by
varying the resistance in the external
circuit using the rheostat.
6.The concentration is stepped up each
time by 1%in this manner up to 5%,
and the readings for each set are
noted.
7.The mean value of resistance is
calculated in each case.
8.A graph is plotted , which shows the
variation of resistance with
concentration of the solution.

Observation table :-
 Concentr Volta Curren Resist
s ation ge t ance
.no (gm/100 (volt (amper R
. ml) ) es) =V/I
(oh
m)
(i) (i) 0.10 (i) 14.00
1.0 1.40 (ii) 0.20 (ii) 14.50
1. (ii) (iii) 0.30 (iii) 13.50
2.90 mean =
(iii) 14.00
4.05
(i) (i) 0.10 (i) 11.00
2.0 1.10 (ii) 0.25 (ii) 10.80
2. (ii) (iii) 0.40 (iii) 11.13
2.70 mean =
(iii) 10.98
4.45
(i) (i) 0.10 (i) 8.00
3.0 0.80 (ii) 0.20 (ii) 7.75
3. (ii) (iii) 0.30 (iii) 8.17
1.55 mean =
(iii) 7.97
2.45
(i) (i) 0.20 (i) 6.25
4.0 1.25 (ii) 0.30 (ii) 6.17
4. (ii) (iii) 0.40 (iii) 6.20
 1.85 mean =
(iii) 6.20
2.48
(i) (i) 0.10 (i) 5.00
5.0 0.50 (ii) 0.20 (ii) 5.00
5. (ii) (iii) 0.30 (iii) 5.00
1.00 mean =
(iii) 5.00
1.50

Result
From the relevant graphs , it is seen that
resistance varies inversely with the
concentration.
 Discussion of result

Result of the experiment shows that the

resistance of an electrolyte is inversely
proportional to its concentration. The
conductivity of an electrolyte depends on
the number of ions per unit volume i.e.
concentration of ions.
As the concentration of the solution is
increased, the concentration of the ions
and hence, the conductivity of the
electrolyte also increases. Therefore
resistance which is the reciprocal of
conductance decreases with increase in
concentration. This reasoning is supported
by the results obtained for this
experiment.

Precautions

1.The electrodes used were thin plates

of copper and they were always kept
parallel to each other inside the
electrolyte.
2.After each reading, the solution was
stirred an allowed to come to rest
before another reading was taken.

3. When variation of resistance due to

one factor is measured, other factors
affecting resistance must be kept
constant.

Sources of error
1.While determining the resistance of
electrolyte by using Cu electrodes, a
small amount of the metal was
deposited on the cathode. This would
have caused a slight change in the
concentration affecting the
subsequent reading.
2.A small amount of oxygen is liberated
at the anode which might have
caused some polarization. These
effects can be minimized by passing
small currents for short time.
3. The concentration of the electrolyte
could not be varied in a range other
than between 1%-5% because beyond
5% concentration, it was not possible
to take the readings and accumulation
of impurities caused disturbances.
 Certificate

THIS IS TO CERTIFY THAT YATIN SINGH OF

CLASS XII-A HAS WORKED UNDER MY
SUPERVISION ON THE PROJECT-
‘TO STUDY THE VARIATION OF ELECTRICAL
RESISTANCE OFFERED BY THE
ELECTROLYTE DUE TO CHANGE IN THE
CONCENTRATION OF ELECTROLYTE
SOLUTION’