Molar conductivity behavior of ionic liquid compare to inorganic salt in electrolyte solution at ambien temperature

Abstract

Molar Conductivity (Λ) behaviour of 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium (Bmin) acetate and Bmin chloride (Bmin Cl) ionic liquids compared to lithium perchlorate (LiClO4) has been studied in aqueous and acetonitrile (ACN) solution at ambient temperature. The limiting molar conductivity (Λ0) was obtained using the Kohlrausch’s and Ostwald’s equation for the investigated systems. The results show that the Λ0 value for LiClO4 in both aqueous or acetonitrile (ACN) electrolyte system with a highest value as compare to ionic liquid electrolyte systems. This might as a result of ions association of LiClO4 in aqueous medium as the concentration of the solute increases in the solvent. In addition, the partial dissociation behaviour of LiClO4 in less polar solvent such as ACN also significantly affects the Λ0 value for this electrolyte system. However, for Bmin acetate and Bmin Cl in the aqueous or ACN medium show a much lower Λ0 value as compare to LiClO4 electrolyte system, 45.64, 74.63 and 107.32 S cm2 mol−1 respectively. This as a result of the nature behaviour of ionic liquid itself that present as free moving ions at room temperature before any dissolution into the solvent. In addition, a vice versa trend of Λ0 value is noted for Bmin acetate and Bmin Cl, 21.34 and 14.56 S cm2 mol−1 respectively in ACN electrolyte system. This indicated the solvent and the size of the anion play an important role in the estimation of limiting molar conductivity values which significantly affect the present of total free moving ions in an electrolyte system.