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Ionic compounds are unable to conduct electricity in crystalline (or solid) form because the ions are unable to carry the electric current since they cannot move from their fixed positions. When in a dissolved state, the ions separate and can thus carry the current.

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Q: Why can't sodium chloride conduct electricity in crystalline form?
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What 2 properties of sucrose distinguish it from sodium chloride?

physical or chemical? physical property: sucrose is sweet while sodium chloride is salty, sucrose is often prepared as fine, crystalline powder while sodium chloride is often prepared with larger crystals. chemical property: sucrose is made up of molecules while sodium chloride is made up of ions. sucrose when dissolved in water cannot conduct electricity because it has covalent bonds. thus there are no mobile ions or electrons to conduct electricity. sodium chloride on the other hand has mobile ions when dissolved in water. thus it can conduct electricity.


Why dont sodium chloride crystal conduct electricity?

Sodium Chloride does not conduct electicity because it is not a metal.Chemical Law: The electrons are unable to move through the latice as they could in a metal and therefore cannot carry electrical charge. Dissolving Sodium Chloride in water will enable it to conduct electricity as the electrons become free to move.


Why does molten sodium chloride will conduct electricity?

No, it is not. 'Solid sodium chloride doesn't conduct electricity, because there are no electrons which are free to move.' http://www.chemguide.co.uk/atoms/structures/ionicstruct.html


Why does sodium chloride not conduct electricity when solid?

solid nacl although contains ions and is an electrolyte does not conduct electricity because it does not have free valency electrons to move and thus the e- are bounded and this is the reason it does not conduct electricity


Is sodium chloride different from a metal as an electrical conductor?

Sodium chloride is different from a metal as an electrical conductor. This is because sodium chloride is an ionic compound and therefore can only conduct electricity when molten or dissolved, as the ions are free to move in this state. However, metals can conduct electricity when solid or molten because the atoms are free to move in both states, therefore they can carry an electrical charge. This is therefore the difference between sodium chloride and metals as an electrical conductor.

Related questions

Why does sodium chloride conduct electricity in crystalline form?

When it is a solid sodium chloride is not an electrical conductor.


Can solid sodium chloride conduct elcetricity?

Solid sodium chloride doesn't conduct electricity.


Is Sodium chloride do they conduct electric city?

Sodium Chloride solution (dissolved in water) conducts electricity, and molten Sodium Chloride conducts electricty, but dry crystal Sodium Chloride does not conduct electricity.


Why does molten sodium chloride conduct electricity but crystalline magnesium chloride does not?

In the molten state the ions of sodium chloride are free to move. Magnesium chloride would also conduct if it were molten. Since the ions of the magnesium chloride are bound together in the crystal lattice they cannot carry a current.


What does sodium chloride conduct?

Sodium chloride conduct electricity only when is as an electrolyte: in water solution or melted.


Why does a sodium chloride crystal not conduct electricity?

Solid sodium chloride is not an electrolyte.


Does Sodium chloride solid conduct electricity?

Sodium chloride is not electrically conductive.


Why does sodium chloride not conduct electricity?

The solid sodium chloride hasn't moving electrons.


Does sodium chloride conduct electricity in trichloromethane?

No


Does sodium chloride conduct electricity when it is dissolved?

Sodium chloride when dissolved in water forms an electrolyte that conducts electricity.


Do sodium chloride crystals conduct electricity?

Solid sodium chloride is not an electrical conductor.


If you could melt a sample of sodium chloride would you expect it to conduct electricity?

yes, molten sodium chloride may conduct the electricity but is not a good electrolyte.