The student is now told that the four solids, in no particular order, are aluminum chloride (AlCl3AlCl3), sugar (C6H12O6C6H12O6), butanoic acid (C3H7COOHC3H7COOH), and potassium bromide (KBrKBr), and potassium bromide (KBr). Assuming that conductivity is correlated to the number of ions in solution, rank the four substances based on how well a 0.20 M solution in water will conduct electricity. Rank from most conductive to least conductive. To rank items as equivalent, overlap them.

aluminum chloride> potassium bromide> butanoic acid> sugar

Explanation:

Conductivity has to do with the ability of a solid to dissolve in solution leading to the formation of mobile ions which are the charge carriers in solution.

Strong electrolytes produce more ions in solution hence they have a higher conductivity.

Aluminum chloride produces four particles in solution hence it has the highest conductivity followed by potassium bromide which produces two particles in solution. Butanoic acid is a weak electrolyte which dissociates only to a small extent while sugar is a nonelectrolyte, it does not dissociate at all in solution.