Why does salt water conduct electricity but pure water does now ?

Answer 1

The salt in salt water acts as a conductor for electricity.

Answer 2

Because water is a molecular substance. The covalent bonds of the water molecule are very stable. The oxygen and hydrogen share their electrons in a way that makes them bond together tightly, and the net electrical charge is neutral.

Table salt (sodium chloride - NaCl), on the other hand, is an ionic compound. The sodium atom "lends" its electron to the chlorine atom, which satisfies both of their tendencies to have 8 (or two) electrons in their valence shells (outermost orbit of electrons), but the imbalance in number of electrons / protons causes the two elements to become charged electrically (ions). The sodium and chlorine ions are then bound together by their electrical charges, creating an electrically neutral compound.

When dissolved in water, however, the chlorine and sodium ions distribute themselves evenly throughout the solution. Since they are not neutrally charged individually, electrons can flow between the ions - which is how the electricity is conducted.

Since the water molecules are electrically neutral, they do not tend to accept extra electrons or give up the ones they have, so electricity does not flow well through pure water.

Answer 3

Pure water is a very weakly ionized substance, whereas salt water is highly ionized. Electricity needs ions to pass the electrons along, therefore salt water conducts electricity much better than pure water.

Answer 4

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