Why does an ionic compound (e.g. NaCl) conduct electricity when molten or dissolved in water, but not when it is a solid.
When an ionic compound is a solid, the ions in the ionic lattice are held together by ionic bonds. Due to this, the ions are not free to move around and so cannot carry a charge. When the ionic compound is molten, or dissolved in water, the ions are free to move around and carry a charge. This allows the ions to carry a charge when molten or dissolved in water.
AH
Related Chemistry A Level answers
All answers ▸Why, in the bromination of phenols, do you not need an acid catalyst like you do in the bromination of benzene?
Explain the variation of atomic radius along a period and along a group of the Periodic Table
How does the anticancer agent cisplatin work?
Plan out a 4 step organic synthesis to form N-methyl Butanamide from 1-Bromopropane. Include relevant reagents and conditions for each reaction. Include 1 mechanism for one of the stages.