A solution of salt in water conducts electricity, but a solution of sugar does not Explain why
Salt solution contains Na+ and Cl- ions. When ions are present in the solution, these ions can move through the solution to carry an electric current. ... Sugar molecules do not break down into ions when dissolved.
NaCl dissolves in water, the crystal breaks apart into Na^+ and Cl^- and these ions conduct electricity from one point in the solution to another. Sugar dissolves in water, too, but sugar stays in the form of molecules. It does not break into ions; therefore, there are no ions to conduct electricity from one point to another.
Salts conduct electricity better than sugar. Salts has a stronger IMF (which is ionic) than sugar (which is molecular). Having a stronger IMF such as ionic compounds has the ability to be a good conductor of electricity. It is done in which ions of the compound separates into a positive and negative ions which produces electricity and connects from one charged ion to another.
NaCl is ionic; Sugar is molecular. So what do these compounds do when dissolved?
salt has ions
sugar doesnt
A solution of salt consists of sodium chloride (NaCl) dissolved in water, which dissociates into sodium ions (Na+) and chloride ions (Cl-) in the solution. These ions are charged particles that can move freely in the solution, allowing the solution to conduct electricity.
On the other hand, a solution of sugar (sucrose, C12H22O11) in water does not conduct electricity because sugar molecules do not dissociate into ions when dissolved in water. Instead, the sugar molecules remain intact and move as a whole in the solution. Since sugar molecules are neutral and do not carry any charge, they are unable to conduct electricity.
To explain this phenomenon further, we can look at the concept of electrical conductivity and the nature of chemical bonding in different substances. Electrical conductivity is the ability of a substance to conduct an electric current. In order for a solution to conduct electricity, it needs to have charged particles that are able to move freely and carry the electric charge.
Ionic compounds, like sodium chloride, consist of positively charged ions (cations) and negatively charged ions (anions) held together by strong ionic bonds. When such a compound is dissolved in water, the water molecules surround and separate the ions, causing them to dissociate and become solvated. These ions can then move freely in the solution and carry the electric charge, allowing the solution to conduct electricity.
On the other hand, covalent compounds like sugar are made up of molecules held together by shared electrons. These covalent bonds within the sugar molecule are very strong, and when sugar is dissolved in water, the water molecules interact with the sugar molecules through weaker intermolecular forces. However, these interactions do not cause the sugar molecules to dissociate into charged particles. As a result, sugar solutions do not contain free ions that can conduct electricity.
In summary, the ability of a solution to conduct electricity depends on the presence of charged particles (ions) that can move freely. Salt dissociates into ions when dissolved in water, enabling it to conduct electricity. Sugar, however, does not dissociate into ions in solution and therefore cannot conduct electricity.