Mercury is the only metal present in liquid state. Can we use it as an electrolyte?
Dear Student,
Mercury can conduct electricity but it cannot be used as an effective & pure electrolyte because it doesn’t have property of having free ions to move to electricity generation. It produces heat but not enough for movement. As we know that an electrolyte should form ions & these Ionic compounds act as electrolytes to produce the electricity. Since mercury is not an ionic compound, we cannot use it as an electrolyte. Most of time it forms amalgam with silver & gold hence no conduction of ions like in Na , K , Cl or Mg.
Regards
Mercury can conduct electricity but it cannot be used as an effective & pure electrolyte because it doesn’t have property of having free ions to move to electricity generation. It produces heat but not enough for movement. As we know that an electrolyte should form ions & these Ionic compounds act as electrolytes to produce the electricity. Since mercury is not an ionic compound, we cannot use it as an electrolyte. Most of time it forms amalgam with silver & gold hence no conduction of ions like in Na , K , Cl or Mg.
Regards