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Electrolyte and Nonelectrolyte Solutions02:21

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Substances that undergo either a physical or a chemical change in solution to yield ions that can conduct electricity are called electrolytes. If a substance yields ions in solution, that is, if the compound undergoes 100% dissociation, then the substance is a strong electrolyte. Complete dissociation is indicated by a single forward arrow. For example, water-soluble ionic compounds like sodium chloride dissociate into sodium cations and chloride anions in aqueous solution.
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Water and other polar molecules are attracted to ions. The electrostatic attraction between an ion and a molecule with a dipole is called an ion-dipole attraction. These attractions play an important role in the dissolution of ionic compounds in water.
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In perfect conductors, the electric field inside is always zero due to the abundance of free electrons, which nullify any field by flowing. As a result, any residual charge resides on the surface.
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For a conductor in which all charges are at rest, the conductor's surface is equipotential. The electric field is always perpendicular to equipotential surfaces. Therefore, in a conductor with static charges, the electric field just outside the conductor is always perpendicular to the conductor's surface. Any tangential component of the electric field will cause charges to move inside the conductor, which will violate the electrostatic nature of the system. In an electrostatic...
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Salts with Acidic Ions
Salts are ionic compounds composed of cations and anions, either of which may be capable of undergoing an acid or base ionization reaction with water. Aqueous salt solutions, therefore, may be acidic, basic, or neutral, depending on the relative acid-base strengths of the salt’s constituent ions. For example, dissolving the ammonium chloride in water results in its dissociation, as described by the equation:
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Characterizing Electron Transport through Living Biofilms
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Hydrated cable bacteria exhibit protonic conductivity over long distances.

Bradley G Lusk1,2, Sheba Morgan3, Shawn P Mulvaney4

  • 1Science the Earth, Mesa, AZ 85201.

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America
|January 13, 2025
PubMed
Summary

Cable bacteria, filamentous microorganisms, conduct protons over long distances (>100 µm) via proton wires. Their protonic conductivity is highly dependent on relative humidity, suggesting Grotthuss mechanism transport.

Keywords:
Desulfobulbaceaebioelectronicselectroactive bacteriaprotonicstransfer-printing

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Area of Science:

  • Microbiology
  • Biophysics
  • Electrochemistry

Background:

  • Filamentous microorganisms known as cable bacteria (Desulfobulbaceae) are recognized for their electrical conductivity.
  • Their capacity for long-distance electron transfer has significant implications for microbial ecosystems.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To directly measure and characterize proton transport along cable bacteria.
  • To investigate the mechanisms and environmental dependencies of proton conduction in these microorganisms.

Main Methods:

  • Utilized a modified transfer-printing technique to deposit palladium (interdigitated protodes, transfer length method) and gold (interdigitated electrodes) on cable bacteria.
  • Measured protonic conductivity (σ) and conductance (G) under varying relative humidity (RH) conditions.

Main Results:

  • Demonstrated that cable bacteria function as protonic conduits, transporting protons over distances greater than 100 µm.
  • Measured protonic conductivity as high as 114 ± 28 µS cm⁻¹ at 25 °C and 70% RH.
  • Observed a 26-fold increase in protonic conductance and conductivity between 60% and 80% RH, indicating Grotthuss mechanism involvement.

Conclusions:

  • Cable bacteria possess proton wires enabling long-distance proton transport.
  • Proton transport is strongly influenced by relative humidity, suggesting a water-mediated Grotthuss mechanism.
  • Findings open avenues for exploring proton transport in microbial ecosystems and developing biomimetic proton-mediated interfaces.