Water that contains impurities conducts electricity because _______ carry the charge
ions
Water that contains impurities conducts electricity because the impurities, such as ions or dissolved substances, carry the charge. These impurities can dissociate into charged particles when they are in water, creating mobile charged particles called ions. These ions can move in the presence of an electric field, facilitating the flow of electric current through the water.
Water that contains impurities conducts electricity because the impurities, such as dissolved salts or minerals, act as electrolytes. These electrolytes are responsible for carrying the electric charge through the water.
To understand this concept further, let's explore the process of conductivity in water:
1. Impurities in water: Pure water, in its natural form, does not conduct electricity. However, when impurities are present in water, they dissociate into charged particles called ions.
2. Ion formation: Impurities, such as salts, minerals, or acids, dissolve in water and break down into positive ions (cations) and negative ions (anions). For example, table salt (sodium chloride) dissociates into sodium ions (Na+) and chloride ions (Cl-) when dissolved in water.
3. Electric charge movement: When an electric potential (voltage) is applied across the water containing these ions, the positive ions migrate towards the negative electrode (cathode), and the negative ions migrate towards the positive electrode (anode). This movement of charged particles creates an electric current.
4. Conductivity of ions: It is important to note that pure water itself does not conduct electricity because it contains very few free ions. The presence of impurities in water significantly increases the concentration of ions, which enhances the conductivity.
Therefore, it is the ions, specifically the positive and negative charged ions generated by impurities in the water, that carry the electric charge and enable the water to conduct electricity.