You are given a gaseous substane which boils at -161 degrees celcius. It is flamable and can be used as fuel. Is it a covalent compound? Do you expect this substance to conduct electricity in the liquid state? Justify your answer.
2006-09-26 04:19:06 · 6 answers · asked by killer 1 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Chemistry
A hydrocarbon? Could be methane (the boiling point is usually given as -164 degrees Celcius).
It is covalently bonded and would have a low dielectric constant and probably would not conduct electricity in the liquid state.
2006-09-26 04:20:53 · answer #1 · answered by Richard 7 · 70⤊ 0⤋
The boiling point of methane is -161, and it is of course highly flammable. It's a hydrocarbon made up of carbon and hydrogen atoms only covalently bonded to each other by single C-H bonds. It does not conduct electricity in any state as there are no ions (positively and negatively charged particles) available to carry the current. This is because the bonds are strong and are not very polar. In liquid methane, there is no reason for these bonds to break apart and create ions to conduct electricity. This is different to say water which is a covalent substance, but where the bond is more polar, and hence can break up into H+ and OH- ions in a solution of water (in this case itself) and conduct electricity
2006-09-26 11:46:28 · answer #2 · answered by squeezy 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Your substance is most likely methane, CH4. It is the simplest hydrocarbon and is used in natural gas systems as fuel. It is a covalent molecule with no polarity therefore it will not conduct electricity in any state. Also the fact that there is an even number of nucleons prevents any magnetic field from being generated, however one could be induced using Carbon-13 Methane or using 1 or 3 Dueteriums for the Hydrogens (however this is costly and very innefficient).
2006-09-26 11:35:02 · answer #3 · answered by piercesk1 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
This is Methane (liquid), bp - 161 deg C.
It is combustible.
Can be used as a fuel.
It is a covenant molecule.
Electricity is a flow of electrons. For conducting electricity one needs to have ionic compounds which are bound co-ordinately or at lest a possibility de-localization of shared electrons. This is not possible with Hydrogen therefore it should not conduct electricity.
(NOTE : At first glance one tends to think of Liquid Hydrogen, however, the boiling point is - 262 deg C. and does not fit with the question.)
2006-09-26 11:51:36 · answer #4 · answered by Yadu M 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No, it is obvioulsly a covalent compound and only ionic, (in solution or the liquid state), compounds or metals conduct electrisity
2006-09-26 11:21:58 · answer #5 · answered by christopher N 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
no idea what you're talking about sorry, check binas though,or is that only dutch? great book though, explains just about everything!
2006-09-26 11:27:49 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋