Courses
Courses for Kids
Free study material
Offline Centres
More
Store Icon
Store

$NaCl$ does not conduct electricity in solid state whereas it does conduct electricity in aqueous solution as well as in molten state. Explain.

seo-qna
SearchIcon
Answer
VerifiedVerified
443.1k+ views
Hint: In solid state ions are fixed and cannot move freely. Whereas ions can move freely in molten and aqueous solution. Sodium chloride is a commonly known salt which we use in our day to day life.

Complete step by step answer:
Sodium chloride is an ionic compound having sodium and chloride ions in its structure. Ionic compounds do not conduct electricity in solid state because ions are fixed in position and cannot move but in aqueous solution and in molten state they conduct electricity as ions are free to move. Therefore, this property is shown by sodium chloride.

Additional Information:
Sodium chloride is commonly known as salt. It is an ionic compound with the chemical formula $NaCl$ representing a 1:1 ratio of sodium and chloride ions. It is the salt most responsible for the salinity of seawater and of the extracellular fluid of many multicellular organisms. In its edible form of table salt, it is commonly used as a condiment and food preservative. Large quantities of this salt are used in many industrial processes and it is a major source of sodium and chloride compounds used as feedstocks for further chemical synthesis. Second major application is de-icing of roadways in sub-freezing weather.
Sodium chloride has various applications and has production of approximately 250 million tonnes per year according to 2008 data. It is used in our body to absorb and transport nutrients, maintain blood pressure, maintain the right balance of fluid, transmit nerve signals and contract and relax muscles.

Note:
In solid state ions are fixed and cannot move and therefore sodium chloride cannot conduct electricity in solid state but produces it in aqueous and molten state.