*Question G6A04:
Which of the following is characteristic of an electrolytic capacitor?*  

*Correct Answer is  C: High capacitance for a given volume*  

### AI Response: (may contain errors)  

Electrolytic capacitors are known for their ability to provide high capacitance values in a relatively small physical size. This makes them ideal for applications where large capacitance is needed but space is limited, such as in power supply filtering.

1. **Correct Answer: High capacitance for a given volume (C)**
   - Electrolytic capacitors can achieve high capacitance values (often in the microfarad to millifarad range) because they use a thin dielectric layer and a large surface area, which allows them to store more charge in a compact form.

2. **Why the other choices are incorrect:**
   - **Tight tolerance (A):** Electrolytic capacitors generally have poor tolerance compared to other types like film or ceramic capacitors. Their capacitance can vary significantly from the nominal value, often by ±20% or more.
   - **Much less leakage than any other type (B):** Electrolytic capacitors typically have higher leakage currents compared to other types of capacitors, such as ceramic or film capacitors. This is due to their construction and the nature of the electrolyte used.
   - **Inexpensive RF capacitor (D):** Electrolytic capacitors are not suitable for RF applications because they have high equivalent series resistance (ESR) and inductance, which can affect performance at high frequencies. They are also not particularly inexpensive compared to other types used in RF applications.

In summary, the defining characteristic of electrolytic capacitors is their ability to provide high capacitance in a small volume, which is why option C is the correct answer.