Why does molten magnesium nitrate conduct an electric current while solid magnesium nitrogen does not conduct?

Answer 1

In the molten (liquid) form, the MgCl2 separates into its ions. The ions can carry electrons, but in the solid form the electrons are not freely shared. An electric current needs freely shared electrons, so only solid metals conduct electricity, and salts (like MgCl2) must be molten.

Answer 2

Electricity is conducted through salts by physical motion of the ions that constitute the salt. The energy increment that must be added to an average ion in molten magnesium nitrate to permit it to move under the influence of an electric field is much less than the corresponding value for moving an ion through the crystal lattice of solid magnesium nitrate. This is a general characteristic of ionically bonded salts.

Answer 3

Molten magnesium nitrate conducts electricity because the ions are free to move and carry an electric charge. In solid magnesium nitrate, the ions are held in a fixed position and unable to move, so it does not conduct electricity.

Answer 4

their electron are free to move about but that ionic compound can not move about easy

Answer 5

In the molten or liquid form, MgCl2 is separated into its ions, Mg2+ and Cl- ions. These ions are free to move to carry the current in the liquid, but are not free in its crystalline form.