Why does sodium chloride not conduct electicity even though it contains charged particals?

[Becka]

Got a few questions

Why does sodium chloride not conduct electicity even though it contains charged particals?

Why must a D.C. power supply be used during electrolysis?

Why can electrolysis not occur in liquid covalent compounds?

Thanks

[SpongeBob SquareChemist]

Originally Posted by Becka

Why does sodium chloride not conduct electicity even though it contains charged particals?

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.

Originally Posted by Becka

Why must a D.C. power supply be used during electrolysis?

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.

Originally Posted by Becka

Why can electrolysis not occur in liquid covalent compounds?

You only get electrolysis with ionic solutions. Covalent solutions don't have any charges that can be separated out at the electrodes.

[KathChem82]

NaCl is a strong electrolyte. It is very much capable of conducting electricity. Remember that electricity is defined as the flow of electrons. Thus, there could only be electricity if there is movement of electrically charged particles. NaCl in the solid form does not move much. It is only capable of vibrational motion. In a solution where it is being dissolved, NaCl ionizes into Na+ and Cl-. Since it is in a solution and the ions have broken loose from that strong bond that holds them together in their solid state, they are then able to move around and conduct electricity.

Cheers!