I have this question in my chemistry homework and am stuck. Water is a covalent compound--so it doesn't conduct electricity. But you're always hearing (well, not really) about how people electrocute themselves by taking a bath and the hairdryer falls in. Why are people electrocuted when water is a covalent compound that is nonconductive?
I'm so stumped--and I left my chem. textbook at school.
2007-02-19 04:45:05 · 5 answers · asked by Briar 4 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Chemistry
So it's covalent and DOESN'T CONDUCT ELECTRICITY (or so says the question). So how would the electric current travel through it?
I mean, I know that it does, I'm not doubting you on that, but I want to make sure I understand the answer.
2007-02-19 04:52:08 · update #1
Oh, and is there something in it's chemical composition or it's bond type that makes the electrocution possible? If not, then it's the impurities--but the whole lab is about ionic vs. covalent compounds, and how you can tell whether a compound is ionic or covalent.
2007-02-19 04:59:41 · update #2
Water splits into ions in a very small way:
H2O ----> H+ + OH-.
Extremely pure water doesn't conduct very well at all, but most water isn't very pure at all! The impurities, especially dissolved minerals, help it to conduct enough to be a severe problem if people want to use mains-powered electrical equipment while lying in a bath, for example.
2007-02-19 04:49:07 · answer #1 · answered by Gervald F 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Water is non conductive however only when it is pure. Water in general has a lot of impurities in it which will conduct, just remember your skin is the only insulation and resistance to electric shock. I know as I am in the elctrical trade for 25 years and have touched electricity without receiving a shock, as soon the skin become wet all insulation is gone and a person can get get a violent shock as low as 5 volt. For reason eletrical regulations state that all switches for spa pool has to be operated by air. I hope this helps you.
2007-02-19 12:53:11 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Water is a universal solvent, and even a tiny upset in perfect pH balance caused by impurity makes it conductive. Only the purest distilled water doesn't conduct significant electric current. Measurement of conductivity is a common lab test of the quality of distilled or de-ionized water.
2007-02-19 12:52:54 · answer #3 · answered by lare 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It is not the water which electrocutes but the electric current which travels through the water.
Water is covalent but also a polar liquid hydrogen is a bit positive and oxygen negative
2007-02-19 12:49:00 · answer #4 · answered by maussy 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
It's the impurities in the water that make 'water' a conductor of electricity.
Even the distilled water in your chem lab isn't as "pure" as you think.
2007-02-19 12:56:35 · answer #5 · answered by tlbs101 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋