Education Technology


Light Me Up!

Activity Overview

In this lesson, students will explore from a macroscopic level what actually occurs on the microscopic level when electrodes and a source of DC electricity are placed in a solution.

Objectives

  • Students will observe whether different solutions conduct electricity.
  • Students will relate this information to the concept of electrolytes and nonelectrolytes.
  • Student will make predictions as to whether a solution will conduct electricity well, poorly, or not at all.
  • Students will use solubility rules to predict the conductivity of ionic compounds.

Vocabulary

  • anions
  • cations
  • conductivity
  • covalent compound
  • direct current (dc)
  • dissociation
  • electrolytes
  • ionic compound
  • ionization
  • molecules
  • nonelectrolytes
  • solubility
  • strong electrolyte
  • weak electrolyte

About the Lesson

This lesson shows on the macroscopic level what occurs on the microscopic level when electrodes and a source of DC electricity are placed in a solution.
As a result, students will:

  • Observe the particles in the solution when a source of current is added.
  • Identify electrolytes and nonelectrolytes.
  • Predict whether substances will conduct electricity well, poorly, or not at all.

This activity was created using Lua. Learn more about Lua in TI-Nspire here.