Question

Why does the molar conductivity of a weak electrolytic solution increase sharply at very low concentrations?

Answer 1

1. The molar conductivity of a weak electrolyte increases sharply at very low concentrations because dilution increases its degree of ionisation.
2. At higher concentrations, weak electrolytes (like CH₃COOH) are only partially dissociated. When diluted, the ionic equilibrium shifts forward (according to Le Chatelier’s principle), leading to the formation of more ions. As the number of charge carriers increases, molar conductivity rises rapidly.

Thus, the sharp increase is due to the increase in the number of free ions available for conduction.