Trystan Casey
Liquids conduct electricity through a different mechanism than solids. While solids conduct electricity by allowing free electrons to move between atoms, liquids with low ion concentrations are poor conductors of electricity. Pure water, for example, is an insulator due to its low ion content. However, when certain compounds (ionic compounds) dissolve in water, they dissociate into ions, enabling the liquid to conduct electricity. Strong electrolytes, such as sodium chloride and hydrochloric acid, are good conductors because they completely dissociate into ions in solution. These ions facilitate the flow of electric current, making liquids with high ion concentrations highly conductive.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Liquids that conduct electricity | Strong electrolytes such as sodium chloride (table salt), hydrochloric acid, and sodium hydroxide |
| Weak electrolytes such as acetic acid (found in vinegar) and ammonia | |
| Ionic compounds such as sodium chloride | |
| How liquids conduct electricity | Through the presence of ions |
| By introducing charges into the liquid | |
| By applying a high voltage to generate free electrons | |
| Liquids that do not conduct electricity | Pure water is an insulator |
| Liquids with little to no ions are non-conductive |
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What You'll Learn
Pure water is not a good conductor
Tap water, rainwater, and seawater all contain a vast array of impurities, such as sodium (Na+), calcium (Ca2+), and magnesium (Mg2+) ions. Because these ions are charged when present in water, they allow for the flow of electricity through the liquid. Even a small amount of ions in water can allow it to conduct electricity, so it doesn’t require a large number of impurities to function as a good conductor.
Pure water does not have any salts or impurities present, so it cannot conduct electricity. Good electrical conductors, like metals, have a large number of free electrons. However, pure water does not have any free electrons present. To make a gas or liquid conduct electricity, we need to generate free charge carriers or free electrons. This can be achieved by applying a high voltage to accelerate any free electrons sufficiently.
The conductivity of water is significant because it indicates how many dissolved substances, chemical compounds, and minerals are present. Pure water has all its minerals and dissolved constituents removed, so it is unable to conduct electricity. However, it is important to note that even small amounts of impurities added to pure water can significantly change its conductive properties.
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Ionic compounds
Liquids can conduct electricity due to the presence of free-moving ions. Pure water, for example, contains some H+ and OH- ions, allowing it to conduct electricity to a small extent. However, the concentration of these ions is very low, resulting in low electrical conductivity. On the other hand, tap water contains additional ions, such as metal cations and halogen anions, which further increase its conductivity.
Now, let's focus on ionic compounds and their behaviour in a liquid state or when dissolved in a liquid. Ionic compounds, such as sodium chloride (NaCl), are composed of positive and negative ions. These compounds are solids due to the strong force of attraction between these oppositely charged ions. When an ionic compound is dissolved in a liquid, it undergoes a process called dissociation, where the water molecules surround the individual ions, breaking the ionic bonds that held them together in the solid state. This results in the release of positive ions (cations) and negative ions (anions) that can move freely within the solution.
The presence of these free-moving charged particles, or ions, is crucial for electrical conduction. Electricity is the flow of charged particles, so when an electric current is applied to the solution, these ions can move and facilitate the conduction of electricity through the liquid. This is why ionic compounds, when dissolved, can conduct electricity.
It is important to distinguish between ionic compounds and covalent compounds in terms of their electrical conductivity. Covalent compounds, such as sugar (C12H22O11) or ethanol (C2H5OH), share electrons between their molecules rather than forming ions. Consequently, when dissolved in water, they typically remain as neutral molecules and do not dissociate into ions. Without the presence of free ions, covalent compounds generally do not conduct electricity. However, there are exceptions, such as HCl, which can produce ions in solution and, thus, conduct electricity.
In summary, ionic compounds can conduct electricity when dissolved in a liquid because they dissociate into free-moving ions, providing the necessary charged particles for electrical conduction. The ability to conduct electricity is an intrinsic property of a material, and ionic compounds in liquid form or dissolved in a liquid can exhibit this conductive behaviour.
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Electrolytes
The word electrolyte comes from the Ancient Greek "ήλεκτρο-" (ēlectro-), a prefix originally meaning amber but now related to electricity, and "λυτός" (lytos), meaning "able to be taken apart". Electrolytes are substances that conduct electricity through the movement of ions, not electrons. They include most soluble salts, acids, and bases dissolved in a polar solvent, usually water. When dissolved, the substance separates into cations and anions, which spread uniformly throughout the solvent.
In medicine, the term electrolyte refers to the substance that is dissolved. These solutions are electrically neutral. However, when an electric potential is applied, the cations and anions are drawn to the electrodes with an abundance or deficit of electrons, respectively. This movement of ions in opposite directions creates an electric current.
Examples of electrolytes include sodium, potassium, chloride, calcium, magnesium, and phosphate in a liquid phase. Electrolyte solutions are important in medicine, particularly in rehydration solutions for children and athletes. Electrolyte monitoring is also crucial in the treatment of eating disorders like anorexia and bulimia.
Solid-state electrolytes also exist, such as in fuel cells, electroplating tanks, and capacitors. Ionic compounds, including salts, acids, and bases, produce ions in water and are classified as electrolytes. Strong electrolytes dissociate almost 100% into ions when dissolved in water, while weak electrolytes have low electrical conductivity.
Electrical conductivity is the ability of a material to allow the flow of an electric current. Pure metals generally provide the best conductivity due to their free electrons, while alloys have lower conductivity due to impurities. In liquids, the presence of dissolved substances, chemical compounds, and minerals can affect conductivity.
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Electrolysis
Liquids with high conductivity are known as electrolytes. They are substances that contain free ions and can conduct electricity when dissolved in water or another solvent. Electrolytes can be strong or weak. Strong electrolytes, such as sodium chloride (table salt), hydrochloric acid, and sodium hydroxide, completely dissociate into ions in solution, resulting in high conductivity. Weak electrolytes, such as acetic acid (found in vinegar) and ammonia, partially dissociate into ions, resulting in lower conductivity compared to strong electrolytes.
During electrolysis, positively charged ions move towards the negative electrode (cathode) and gain electrons, while negatively charged ions move towards the positive electrode (anode) and lose electrons. This movement of ions is the basis of electrolysis and results in the decomposition of the ionic substance into simpler substances. For example, if electricity is passed through molten sodium chloride, it breaks down into sodium and chlorine, which are collected at their respective electrodes.
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Industrial applications
Liquids with good electrical conductivity have a wide range of industrial applications. For instance, liquids with high electrical conductivity, such as liquid metals, are used in the development of stretchable electronics. This includes wearable devices like health and tactile touch monitoring sensors, soft robotics, and advanced prosthetics. The high electrical conductivity of liquid metals also makes them suitable for use in stretchable and wearable LED arrays.
In the electronics industry, liquid conductive materials are used as adhesives. Electrically conductive adhesives are in high demand in the automotive, aerospace, and electronics industries. Dispensing devices like the ViscoTec brand are used to transfer, process, and dispense highly viscous, structure-sensitive, and solids-laden liquids with precision.
The electrical conductivity of water is also important in industrial applications. For example, in water treatment, the electrical conductivity of water is measured to effectively eliminate pollutants from wastewater. In addition, the estimation of the electrical conductivity of water is vital for cooling towers and boilers. This is because the conductivity of water indicates the number of dissolved substances, chemical compounds, and minerals present.
Liquid solutions of acids, bases, and salts are good conductors of electricity. On the other hand, distilled water, mustard oil, and coconut oil are poor conductors.
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Frequently asked questions
Liquids that are good conductors of electricity are those with a high number of ions. Strong electrolytes such as sodium chloride (table salt), acids like hydrochloric acid, and bases like sodium hydroxide are examples of highly conductive liquids.
Electrolytes are substances that conduct electricity and undergo chemical changes during electrolysis. They can be liquids or solutions containing ions.
Electrolytes are made up of positively charged ions (cations) and negatively charged ions (anions). When an electric current is passed through an electrolyte, the cations move towards the negative electrode (the cathode) and gain electrons, while the anions move towards the positive electrode (the anode) and lose electrons.
