Lab Report Electrical Conductivity
Lab Report
Electrical Conductivity
Introduction
There are some substances that are capable of conducting electricity, and the reason they conduct electricity is because of the type of compound the substance is. Electrolytes or any ionic compound conduct electricity and nonelectrolytes do not conduct electricity.
An Ionic compound is formed from the electrical attraction between anions and cations, typically a metal with a non-metal, except hydrogen. When an ionic compound forms, the anion transfers an electron to the cation which creates an electrostatic bond and an electrically neutral compound. Also, they readily dissolve in aqueous solutions and are good conductors of heat and electricity. Further, ionic compounds can be classified as either strong conductors or weak conductors. In contrast, molecular compounds are formed from non-metals. Molecular compounds share electrons between atoms forming a covalent bond. In general, molecular compounds do not dissolve readily in solution and are poor conductors of heat and electricity. They are classified as non-electrolyte compounds.
The reason of why electrolytes or ionic compounds are supposed to conduct electricity is because of the charge of the molecule, ionic compounds can have either a really positive or a really negative charge. This charge in the molecule makes it easier to electrons to move from molecule to molecule; therefore an electric current is generated. On the other hand, covalent compounds, either polar or non-polar, are not capable of conducting electricity. This is because they have more balanced charges and it is harder for electrons to move from one particle to another one. Also one has to take into account that when dealing with mixtures, if it contains one ionic compound and a covalent compound, its conductivity will be affected by the covalent compound and it probably won’t transmit an electric current.
In this experiment, six different substances will be used in order to
Electrical Conductivity
Introduction
There are some substances that are capable of conducting electricity, and the reason they conduct electricity is because of the type of compound the substance is. Electrolytes or any ionic compound conduct electricity and nonelectrolytes do not conduct electricity.
An Ionic compound is formed from the electrical attraction between anions and cations, typically a metal with a non-metal, except hydrogen. When an ionic compound forms, the anion transfers an electron to the cation which creates an electrostatic bond and an electrically neutral compound. Also, they readily dissolve in aqueous solutions and are good conductors of heat and electricity. Further, ionic compounds can be classified as either strong conductors or weak conductors. In contrast, molecular compounds are formed from non-metals. Molecular compounds share electrons between atoms forming a covalent bond. In general, molecular compounds do not dissolve readily in solution and are poor conductors of heat and electricity. They are classified as non-electrolyte compounds.
The reason of why electrolytes or ionic compounds are supposed to conduct electricity is because of the charge of the molecule, ionic compounds can have either a really positive or a really negative charge. This charge in the molecule makes it easier to electrons to move from molecule to molecule; therefore an electric current is generated. On the other hand, covalent compounds, either polar or non-polar, are not capable of conducting electricity. This is because they have more balanced charges and it is harder for electrons to move from one particle to another one. Also one has to take into account that when dealing with mixtures, if it contains one ionic compound and a covalent compound, its conductivity will be affected by the covalent compound and it probably won’t transmit an electric current.
In this experiment, six different substances will be used in order to