No, NaCl (Table salt) is not conductive in its crystalline/solid form. But due to it being an ionic compound, it shows very high electrical conductivity in its molten or solution state.
NaCl is an ionic compound. In its solid state, the valence electrons are completely transferred, so there don’t exist any free electrons. So NaCl is not conductive in its solid state. But in its molten state NaCl dissociates into Na+ and Cl– ions, due to the presence of ions NaCl solution is highly conductive.
Is NaCl Conductive
NaCl is nonconductive in the solid state. It is an ionic compound. During the formation of ionic compounds, the valence shell electrons are donated by one atom and received by the other. This creates a strong attractive force between the ions of opposite charges. As the electrons are permanently transferred there is no free electron in the NaCl crystal. So, NaCl is not conductive in the solid state.
When NaCl solution is created, it dissociates into Na+ and Cl– ions. As the NaCl solution contains charged ions in high concentrations which can move freely, it is extremely electrically conductive. So, NaCl is nonconductive in its solid state but highly conductive in solution.
Is NaCl a conductor of electricity
NaCl is not a conductor of electricity in the solid state. But it becomes highly conductive when it is dissolved into a solution. NaCl dissociates into Na+ and Cl– ions in solution, these ions act as free charge carriers. Thus, the NaCl solution is conductive.
Is NaCl a good conductor
No, NaCl is not a conductor in the crystal state. But it shows very high conductivity in an aqueous solution. The conductivity of 1M NaCl solution is 85000 µS/cm.
Is sodium chloride conductive or non-conductive
NaCl is conductive in its molten state due to the presence of Na+ and Cl– ions. But it is nonconductive in its solid crystal state. Because, as it is an ionic compound, there is no free electron available in the crystal lattice of NaCl. As there is no free charge carrier, NaCl is nonconductive in the solid state.
Why is NaCl not a conductor
NaCl is not a conductor because it is an ionic compound. In an ionic compound, the participant atoms donate and receive electrons to achieve stability and become charged ions. The ions attract each other strongly due to being of opposite charge, thus forming an ionic compound. In an ionic compound’s crystal, there exist no free electrons. So due to the lack of free electrons, NaCl is not a conductor in the solid state.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the conductivity of the NaCl solution?
The conductivity of NaCl solution depends on the concentration of NaCl in the solution. The conductivity increases with the increase of concentration of NaCl in the solution. The conductivity of 1M NaCl solution is 85000 µS/cm.
Conclusion
NaCl is not conductive in its solid state. It is a general property of ionic compounds. But NaCl shows high conductivity in the molten/ solution state because it dissociates into Na+ and Cl– ions in solution.
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