Why does nacl conduct electricity and benzene do not
Solid NaCl consists of Na^+ and Cl^- but those ions are not free to move around; i.e., they are locked into position in the solid crystalline structure. Since they can't move the solid does not conduct electricity. When solid NaCl is dissolved in water the crystal structure is broken, the ions are free to move in the solution so that solution does conduct electricity. Benzene, on the other hand, does not consist of ions; therefore, it does not conduct.
Salt, or sodium chloride (NaCl), is an ionic compound, while benzene is a covalent compound. The difference in their ability to conduct electricity lies in their bonding nature and structure.
NaCl conducts electricity due to the presence of charged particles called ions. When dissolved in water or melted, NaCl dissociates into Na+ and Cl- ions. These ions are free to move and carry an electric charge, allowing the flow of electricity. Similarly, in solid form, NaCl crystals contain tightly packed ions, and when a potential difference is applied, the ions can migrate, resulting in electrical conductivity.
In contrast, benzene (C6H6) is a molecular compound made up of carbon and hydrogen atoms connected by covalent bonds. Covalent compounds generally do not conduct electricity because they lack charged particles. In benzene, all the carbon-carbon (C-C) and carbon-hydrogen (C-H) bonds are nonpolar, meaning there is an equal sharing of electrons. This leads to no separation of charge, and as a result, benzene cannot carry an electric current.
To determine if a substance conducts electricity, it is essential to analyze its bonding type and structure. Ionic compounds tend to conduct electricity due to the presence of free ions, while covalent compounds, like benzene, do not conduct electricity due to the lack of charged particles within their structure.