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Chemistry Forums for Students => Undergraduate General Chemistry Forum => Topic started by: username1 on December 13, 2018, 02:43:09 PM

Title: Electrolysis
Post by: username1 on December 13, 2018, 02:43:09 PM
1.Does electrolysis cause short circuits?
If the electrolyte is an ionic solution ,then surely it will conduct electricity and short circuit?
Title: Re: Electrolysis
Post by: Borek on December 13, 2018, 03:39:34 PM
Light bulb conducts electricity, yet it doesn't short the circuit. Can you think why?
Title: Re: Electrolysis
Post by: Enthalpy on December 14, 2018, 03:01:19 PM
Electrolytes conduct electricity more or less, and the idea of "short circuit" is relative.

If you try to detect individual photons and get a signal current of one electron, any trace of humidity is a short circuit. If your power line transports 13GW, rainwater on the 1MV insulators makes a small leak (that doesn't stay for long, by the way).
Title: Re: Electrolysis
Post by: OrganicDan96 on December 14, 2018, 03:22:47 PM
no such thing as a "short circuit" as every conductor has resistance it is just a lose description used to describe an abnormal large amount of current caused by a direct connection between + and -.