Hmm...An electrolyte is any substance containing free ions that behaves as an electrically conductive medium. Because they generally consist of ions in solution, electrolytes are also known as ionic solutions, but molten electrolytes and solid electrolytes are also possible. They are sometimes referred to in abbreviated jargon as lytes.
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Electrolytes commonly exist as solutions of acids, bases or salts. Furthermore, some gases may act as electrolytes under conditions of high temperature or low pressure. Electrolyte solutions can also result from the dissolution of some biological (e.g. DNA, polypeptides) and synthetic polymers (e.g. polystyrene sulfonate), termed polyelectrolytes, which contain multiple charged moieties.
Electrolyte solutions are normally formed when a salt is placed into a solvent such as water and the individual components dissociate due to the thermodynamic interactions between solvent and solute molecules, in a process called solvation.
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In simple terms, the electrolyte is a material that dissolves in water to give a solution that conducts an electric current.
Note that molten salts can be electrolytes as well. For instance, when sodium chloride is molten, the liquid conducts electricity.
An electrolyte in a solution may be described as concentrated if it has a high concentration of ions, or dilute if it has a low concentration. If a high proportion of the solute dissociates to form free ions, the electrolyte is strong; if most of the solute does not dissociate, the electrolyte is weak. The properties of electrolytes may be exploited using electrolysis to extract constituent elements and compounds contained within the solution.
What's the atmospheric pressure on Mars?Furthermore, some gases may act as electrolytes under conditions of high temperature or low pressure.
Just wondering. Food for thought, if nothing else.
Are they any other ways of producing perchlorates? Other than electrolysis, etc... Or is this prima fascia evidence for electrolytic / electrochemical action in Mars' soil and/or atmosphere at some point in the present on past? How many lines of evidence must lead to the same conclusions?
Regards,
~Michael Gmirkin