Question

How do ionic compounds conduct electricity in water?

Answer 1

Hint As we know that conduction of electricity needs the presence of free electrons to move freely. And we can say that ions can only conduct electricity when they are able to move.

Complete Step by step solution:
- As we know that substances can conduct electricity if there is a way for charge to flow through that substance.
- It is found that in order to conduct electricity, a substance needs to contain some sort of charge carrier, this can be an ion or an electron. That must be free to move within the substance.
- As we can see that ionic compounds in water conduct electricity, this is because they contain charged particles called anion or cation. It is found that these are basically free to move to conduct electricity.
- There are many free ions present in both ionic as well as in molten states that are able to conduct electricity.
- Ionic compounds conduct electricity in water as there the electrostatic force of attraction in between the oppositely charged ions are found to overcome due to heat. Whereas, it is found that ionic compounds in solid state do not conduct electricity.

Note:
- We should remember that dissolved as well as molten state of ionic compounds conduct electricity similarly, but this fact does not make both of them same. As in the dissolved state electrostatic force of attraction is found to be very weak due to the medium they are operating in. whereas, in the molten state these forces are found to overcome by heat.