Is 𝐶6𝐻12𝑂6 an electrolyte or a non-electrolyte? Explain.

Question:- Is 𝐶6𝐻12𝑂6 an electrolyte or a non-electrolyte? Explain.

Answer: The correct answer is C6H12O6 (glucose) is a non-electrolyte.

Glucose represented as C6H12O6 is a non-electrolyte. This classification is made depending on the solubility of the substance in water. Glucose is a molecule that when dissolved does not break into ions in solution like some molecules do. Rather, the whole glucose molecule stays as such in solution, in that the atoms in it are bonded with each other by covalent linkages. Hence, it does not carry an electrical current when dissolved in water, a core property of non-electrolytes. Since ion formation is absent in glucose, the sugar does not help the solution’s electrical conductivity. This property is in-expressive to such ions as table salt (NaCl), which creates ions (Na+ & Cl-) in water for electrical conduction. Glucose can therefore be regarded as a non-electrolytic compound in biological systems because it has energy-providing capability without affecting the ionic balance.