Hey!
I'm having difficulty trying to identify what "types" of substances Ascorbic Acid and Palmitic Acid are.
My teacher says that "only metallic and covalent network solids (these two are solid at room temp) are electrically conductive". Furthermore, she says that "strong conductivity in solution is indicative of an ionic compound," and lastly that "low melting temperatures and nonconductive liquids are characteristic of molecular substances."
My observations from the two include:
-Ascorbic acid: Nonconductive @ room temperature; conductive as a solution
-palmitic acid: conductive as a pure liquid; low melting point
Thanks!
Based on your observations and the information provided by your teacher, we can determine the likely types of substances for Ascorbic Acid and Palmitic Acid.
1. Ascorbic Acid:
- Nonconductive at room temperature: This indicates that Ascorbic Acid is not a metallic or covalent network solid.
- Conductive in solution: This suggests that Ascorbic Acid is an ionic compound, as strong conductivity in solution is typical of such compounds.
Therefore, Ascorbic Acid is most likely an ionic compound.
2. Palmitic Acid:
- Conductive as a pure liquid: This indicates that Palmitic Acid can conduct electricity in its liquid state. According to your teacher's statement, only metallic or covalent network solids are conductive. As Palmitic Acid is not a solid but still conducts electricity, it does not fit into the category of metallic or covalent network solids. Therefore, it suggests that Palmitic Acid is not a metallic or covalent network solid.
- Low melting point: This aligns with the characteristic of molecular substances, which tend to have lower melting temperatures.
Based on these observations, Palmitic Acid is most likely a molecular substance.
To summarize:
- Ascorbic Acid is an ionic compound.
- Palmitic Acid is a molecular substance.
Please note that this determination is based on the information you provided and the reasoning process. It's always essential to consult reliable sources or refer to scientific literature for accurate and in-depth information about specific compounds.