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Name: Cleveland W.
Status: student
Age: 15
Location: N/A
Country: N/A
Date: 7/17/2003
Question:
Why does aqueous sodium chloride conduct electricity?

Replies:
Cleveland,

Pure water is a rather poor conductor of electricity because, for the most part, it exists as electrically neutral molecules -- that is, the molecules carry no electric charge. When salt (or any other soluble ionic compound) is dissolved in water, the NaCl dissociates into Na+ and Cl- ions. These positive and negative ions represent the charge carriers in solution. because they are mobile and can accept and transfer electrons through the liquid.

Regards,
ProfHoff 707


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