How do electrical conductivity of ionic compounds change when they are melted or dissolved in water?

Answer 1

When ionic compounds are placed in water, they cause the water to conduct electricity. Normally, water doesn't conduct electricity well at all. However, when salts dissolve in water, they break up into their constituent cations and anions and it is the presence of these ions that allows it to conduct electricity. Because salts conduct electricity when dissolved in water, they are referred to as electrolytes. In the same way, pure salts conduct electricity only when they are melted. As a solid, the anions and cations in an ionic compound are locked in place and unable to move electrical charge. However, when the ionic compound is melted, these ions are free to move around and conduct charge. Electrolytes are compounds that conduct electricity when dissolved in water. Many ionic compounds are considered to be electrolytes. However some ionic compounds don't dissolve in water. As a result, they do not share this property.

Answer 2

• In solution, the ions in ionic compounds are much more easily separated from one another to a sufficient distance to allow them to move freely through the solution, in part because of the high dielectric constant of water.
• Electric current is the flow of charged particles. When ionic crystals disolve in water, the bonds between ions are broken. As a result, the ions are free to move about, and the solution conducts current. Likewise, when an ionic compound melts, the ions are able to move freely, and the liquid conducts current. In contrast, ionic compounds in solid form do not conduct current well. The ions in the solid crystal are tightly bound to each other and cannot move from place to place. If charged particles cannot move, there is no current.
• they begin to conduct electricity.

Answer 3

When in aquaeous solution or molten, the ions in an ionic compound dissociate, so they are free to carry charge from one electrode to the other. Consequently, ionic compounds can conduct electricity, but only when in these states.

Answer 4

Ionic compounds in molten state and in aqueoussolution becomes good conductor of electric current as they have free ions available in both states. So there conductivity increases in both states.

Answer 5

if you heat an ionic compound then the lattice breaks and the ions are free to move. this allows the molten substance to conduct electricity.

Answer 6

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.

Answer 7

they begin to conduct electricity.