Correct option is B
Introduction
· Specific conductivity is a measure of the ability of water to conduct an electric current, which is directly dependent on the concentration of dissolved ions (electrolytes) present in the solution.
· In environmental monitoring, conductivity is used as a proxy to estimate Total Dissolved Solids (TDS) and to detect changes in the chemical composition of water bodies.
· The movement of these ions in an aqueous medium is governed by the principles of thermodynamics and fluid dynamics, specifically relating to the kinetic energy of particles.
Information Booster
· The correct answer is increases, as the specific conductivity of water rises by approximately 2% to 3% for every 1°C increase in temperature.
· When temperature increases, the viscosity of water decreases, which reduces the "drag" or resistance encountered by ions as they move through the liquid.
· Higher temperatures also increase the kinetic energy of the dissolved ions, allowing them to move faster toward electrodes when an electric field is applied.
· Furthermore, increased temperature can lead to a slight increase in the dissociation of molecules into ions, thereby increasing the total number of charge carriers available.
· To ensure accuracy in scientific reporting, conductivity measurements are typically normalized to a standard reference temperature of 25°C.
Additional Knowledge
· Remains unchanged is incorrect because conductivity is a temperature-dependent physical property; failing to account for temperature fluctuations would lead to significant errors in water quality assessment.
· Decreases is incorrect in the context of aqueous solutions, although it is a phenomenon observed in metallic conductors where increased temperature leads to higher lattice vibration and resistance.
· Makes the water turbid is incorrect as turbidity refers to the cloudiness or haziness of a fluid caused by large individual particles (suspended solids) that are generally invisible to the naked eye, rather than dissolved ions.
· Distilled or deionized water has very low specific conductivity because it lacks the necessary mineral ions to facilitate the flow of current, regardless of the temperature.
