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Originally Posted by Becka
Why does sodium chloride not conduct electicity even though it contains charged particals?
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They can't move around because they're tied up tight in the solid state. If they can't move around, they can't conduct. The only thing they can do is vibrate.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Becka
Why must a D.C. power supply be used during electrolysis?
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You want the positive ions to head for the negative electrode and the negative ions to head for the positive electrode. If you use AC they move back and forward and mostly never get anywhere.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Becka
Why can electrolysis not occur in liquid covalent compounds?
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You only get electrolysis with ionic solutions. Covalent solutions don't have any charges that can be separated out at the electrodes.