Understanding electrical conductivity through a liquid involves
understanding a concept called ionization. After you have studied
chemistry in school it will be clear to you, but just to give you an idea,
consider this. Salts, acids, and bases are substances that ionize in
solution. Ionization means that when they dissolve they break apart into
two or more positive and negatively charged components. Acids always have
H+ as one component (positive ion). The other component depends on the
type of acid. In citric acid the components are H+ and citrate- ; vinegar
ionizes to give H+ and acetate-, and so on. In the presence of an
electrical current, say from a battery, one wire (+ on the battery) sends
out electrons(-) and the other takes in electrons (-on the battery). In a
wire circuit the electrons are passed from atom to atom in the wire. In a
solution of ions the negatively charged electrons not only are transferred
between ions but the ions themselves will move toward the opposite
charge; H+ will move to the wire from the +side of the battery (the + side
of a battery gives off electrons, which are -) and the citrate- will move
to the - side of the battery (also called the ground).
2006-12-21 10:24:04
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answer #1
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answered by jamaica 5
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Citric acid dissociates so that it has ions to carry electrons, but it does not produce electricity,
2006-12-21 12:16:21
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answer #2
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answered by science teacher 7
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It does not. If you will put a (for example) zinc and copper rods in it, then you will get current. Any acid will do, as what you need, is a liquid that conducts electricity (electrolyte). Then, after putting two types of metals in it, what you get is a galvanic cell. After electrolysis of metals in acid, you get metal ions, and as metals are gaining positive charge in different ratio, there is a difference in charges, so we have voltage :)
2006-12-21 09:38:11
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answer #3
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answered by Gerino 2
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Egyptians used it in clay gars with copper rods to produce electricity.Its an electrolyte,but dose not produce electricity by its self.
2006-12-22 17:57:33
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answer #4
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answered by Anonymous
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because it becomes oxidized, so it donates electrons, thus producing electricity
2006-12-21 09:51:05
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answer #5
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answered by bunja2 3
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