Which of the following compounds would be able to conduct electricity in molten form?
A.
CH4
B.
PCl3
C.
CO2
D.
NaCl
Answer: NaCl
yes
To determine which of the given compounds can conduct electricity in a molten form, we need to consider their chemical properties.
In general, an ionic compound will be able to conduct electricity in its molten form because the ions are free to move within the liquid. Ionic compounds are formed by the attraction between positively and negatively charged ions.
Out of the given compounds, NaCl (sodium chloride) is an ionic compound. In its solid form, NaCl does not conduct electricity because the ions are held fixed in a crystal lattice. However, when NaCl is melted (heated to a sufficiently high temperature), the crystal lattice breaks down, and the sodium and chloride ions become mobile in the liquid. As a result, molten NaCl can conduct electricity.
On the other hand, CH4 (methane), PCl3 (phosphorus trichloride), and CO2 (carbon dioxide) are molecular compounds. Molecular compounds are formed by the sharing of electrons between atoms, and they generally do not conduct electricity in any phase (solid, liquid, or gas) because the molecules do not have free ions or mobile charged particles.
Therefore, the correct answer is D. NaCl.
To determine whether a compound can conduct electricity in molten form, we need to consider its ability to dissociate into ions. Ionic compounds are able to conduct electricity when molten because the ions are free to move and carry charge.
Among the given compounds, only NaCl (sodium chloride) is an ionic compound. It consists of sodium ions (Na+) and chloride ions (Cl-). When NaCl is molten, the ionic bonds between the sodium and chloride ions are broken, allowing the free movement of ions and the conduction of electricity.
On the other hand, the other compounds (CH4, PCl3, CO2) are covalent compounds. Covalent compounds do not dissociate into ions when melted, as they are held together by strong covalent bonds. Therefore, they are unable to conduct electricity in molten form.
Therefore, the correct answer is D. NaCl.