What substances form electric current pass through water?

Answer 1

Electric current means movement of ions or electrons. Water itself (H2O) does not have ions, so electricity does not flow through it.

However, water can work both as an acid and a base. When two water molecules react into one H3O+ and one OH- ion, those will carry electrical charges. This reaction is possible and does happen even in distilled water, but (relatively) rarely *, which is why distilled water is almost unable to carry electric current.

To make water able to carry current, more ions are needed. This can for example be achieved by adding any salt (salts always consist of ions) or either acids or bases that will then react to ions with the water molecules.

Note that clear water from the water-tap is not distilled and contains small amounts of minerals and salts already, i.e. it is most likely able to carry electricity.

* Distilled water has pH 7, that means the concentration of H3O+ and OH- ions is 0.0001 (10-7) mmol per litre of water.

Answer 2

No. Electricity will not pass through distilled water, or any other liquid medium that

does not contain electrolytes (salts) or other dissolved solids through which electricity

can conduct, such as mineral oil.

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Answer #2:

Well explained, but I don't think so.

The resistivity of absolute pure water is 18.2 (rounded) MΩ × cm at 25°C

or 0.055 micro-siemens/cm.

It's not much but it's something.

Answer 3

by ionizing materials in the liquids. Electric current then occurs via these ions.

Answer 4

When passing electricity through water, the water (H20) divides into two H (Hydrogen) and 1 O (Oxygen).