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Ionic compounds conduct electric current when they are molten because the constituent ions that form the compound appear when the solid form changes phase into the liquid one. The solid structure of the compound, which is generally a crystalline one, comes apart when it melts, and in a way similar to what it does when that compound dissolved in a solvent. This frees the ions, and their mobility means that they can contribute to the movement of electric current. It's just that simple.

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12y ago
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11y ago

Conducting of charge is due to movement of electrons,i.e. if electrons which can move are available then the compound will be good conductor. In case of ionic compounds the molecules of the compound get ionized when dissolved in water or in the molten state giving ions. These ions can conduct the electricity ,hence ionic substances conduct charge.

as ions can exist either in solution or in molten state only, that is why conducting of charge is observed in aqueous state or in molten state .

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13y ago

If a voltage is applied across this molten mass, cations migrate freely to one electrode and anions migrate to the other. This ion movement allows electricity to flow between the electrodes through an external wire. Also the ions are free to move about in the aqueous solution.

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12y ago

Conducting electricity requires spatial motion of at least one kind of charged particle. In most solid ionic compounds, the barriers to motion are too high to be overcome by any but very high electrical fields, and such high fields usually change the chemical nature of the compound. Some ionic compounds can contain impurities that generate more readily moved charges; these are the ionic semiconductors.

In a liquid state, the ions of the ionic compound can move readily because of the much lower energy barriers to motion characteristic of a liquid.

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10y ago

As ionic compounds consist of ions, more precisely cations and anions, and when melted or dissolved in water the bond between ions breaks. Now the ions are separated, and thus have an electric charge (cations have a positive charge and anions a negative one). And as it is, in order for something to conduct electricity, that something must have a way to transfer electic current, which is charged particles (in this context: ions).

And in a nutshell, that's why ionic compounds conduct electricity when melted or in water.

Hope this helps :)

(As to why ionic compounds don't conduct electricity when they're not either melted or in water: ionic compounds bound together produce a compound, which has no charge as a whole therefore, no ways to transfer charges :))

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9y ago

When the ionic compound melts, it ionises. These ions help them to conduct electricity.

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12y ago

becausee it can

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11y ago

Yes they do!! But just in MODERN state!

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Q: Why does an ionic compound conduct an electric current when the compound is melted?
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Related questions

When can ionic compound conduct electric?

An ionic compound can conduct electricity when it is in solution or melted.


Why is a melted ionic compound is a good conductor of electric current but a solid ionic compound is a poor conductor of electric current?

Upon melting, the ions are free to move and conduct electricity.


Why is a melted ionic compound a good conductor of electric current but the a solid ionic compound is a poor conductor of electric current?

Upon melting, the ions are free to move and conduct electricity.


Can ionic compounds conduct electric current when melted?

Yes, ionic compounds can only conduct electricity when molten or dissolved.


When can an ionic compound conduct electricity?

An ionic compound can conduct electricity when it is in solution or melted.


Why ionic compound are called good electrolytes?

Even insoluble ionic compounds such as CaCO 3 are electrolytes because they can conduct a current in the molten (melted) state.


Will an ionic compound conduct electricity as a solid?

Ionic compounds are conductors in solution or melted.


Does saltconduct electricity?

In order to conduct electric current, salt has to be either dissolved in a liquid, or else melted in its own liquid form. A pile of dry salt out of the shaker won't do it.


How does electric conductivity of ionic compounds change when they are melted or dissolved in water?

Melting or dissolving ionic compounds increases the electrical conductivity. This is because there are free mobile charged ions that can move in the electric field and conduct current.


Does solid sodium chloride conduct an electrical current?

No. Solid Sodium Chloride does not conduct electricity, unless is melted or disolved in water.


Why are ionic compounds good conductors when they are melted?

Ionic compounds are good conductors of electricity when they are melted because the molecules in the compound are spread out further and can create more friction therefore creating an electric current


How does the electrical conductivity of ionic compounds change when they are melted or dissolve in water?

Melting or dissolving ionic compounds increases the electrical conductivity. This is because there are free mobile charged ions that can move in the electric field and conduct current.