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Moises Chame

What makes ionic compounds able to conduct electricity?

Dale Henderson  Follow

It's the presence of mobile ions in molten ionic compounds or aqueous solutions of ionic compounds.

Solid ionic compounds do not conduct electricity.

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David Blache  Follow

Ions behave like charged bodies or particles. According to the law of electrostatics, a charged body, when placed in an electric field, is accelerated in the direction of electric field. This is how conduction occurs in ionic solutions.

In a salt solution (such as brine or concentrated NaCl solution), if a battery is connected through an ammeter across two metal electrodes inserted into it; we shall find the ammeter reads a current depending on the concentration of the solution (actually it is proportional to the concentration of ions). The sodium ions in the solution migrates towards the anode while chloride ions migrate towards the cathode due to electrostatic forces acting on them. This is what completes an electrical circuit through which, a current can flow.

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