How liquids conduct electricity?

Answer 1

Liquids conduct electricity through the movement of charged particles, typically ions or electrons, within the liquid. The ability of a liquid to conduct electricity depends on its composition and the presence of charged particles capable of carrying electrical charge.

Here's how it typically works:

Ionization: In many cases, liquids that conduct electricity contain ions, which are atoms or molecules that have gained or lost electrons, thus acquiring a net electrical charge. When dissolved in a liquid, these ions become mobile and can move freely within the liquid.

Movement of Charged Particles: When a voltage is applied across the liquid (by immersing electrodes in the liquid and connecting them to a power source), the charged particles in the liquid, such as positive ions (cations) and negative ions (anions), move towards the oppositely charged electrode.

Completion of Circuit: The movement of charged particles within the liquid completes an electrical circuit, allowing the flow of electric current between the electrodes.

Conductivity: The ability of a liquid to conduct electricity depends on factors such as the concentration of ions in the liquid, the mobility of the ions, and the presence of any other conducting species. Generally, liquids with a higher concentration of ions and higher ion mobility tend to be better conductors of electricity.

Electrolytes: Liquids that readily conduct electricity are often referred to as electrolytes. Electrolytes can be either strong electrolytes, which completely dissociate into ions when dissolved in water (such as saltwater), or weak electrolytes, which partially dissociate into ions.

It's important to note that not all liquids conduct electricity. Pure water, for example, is a poor conductor of electricity because it contains few ions. However, when certain substances are dissolved in water, such as salt (sodium chloride), the resulting solution becomes conductive due to the presence of ions derived from the dissociation of the salt molecules.

Answer 2

Although it's not the whole story, the main fact is that in some liquids there exists charge carriers that are able to move almost freely troughout the liquid and thus conduct electricity. For example, in a mixing of salt and water there exists ions and in Mercury there are nearly free electrons for conduction (remember it's a metal)

Answer 3

Definitely not! Most liquids other than metals and liquid salts are very poor conductors of electricity.

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Some liquids are excellent conductors; it depends on the temperature. Mercury, for example, is a liquid at "room temperature" and is an excellent conductor.

Answer 4

The thing that makes liquids good conductors is the presence of ions or an ability of electrons to be passed from one atom to another. Some liquids are good conductors, and some are not. Water is a pretty poor conductor when it is pure. Add a little salt, and it becomes pretty good because of the salt ions.

Answer 5

water conducts electricity in the form of ions. It is a polar solvent and dissolves everything in it. A good electrolyte converts in the form of ions in water and conducts electricity.

Answer 6

Electricity is the flow of charged particles (ie, ions, electrons or protons); in a liquid, the electrons can pass on charge so some liquids are very good electrical conductors.

Answer 7

Only solutions able to contain ions (cations or anions) with negative or positive charge.