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Which of these BEST describes why an ionic solution is a good conductor of electricity while a covalent solution is a poor conductor? A) Ionic compounds form charged molecules in solution, and electricity cannot flow if charged molecules are present. B) Ionic compounds form charged particles in solution, and electricity will only flow if charged particles are present. C) Covalent compounds form charged molecules in solution, and electricity cannot flow if charged molecules are present. D) Covalent compounds form charged particles in solution,and electricity will only flow if charged particles are present.

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The answer is B) Ionic compounds form charged particles in solution, and electricity will only flow if charged particles are present.

User Nicola Ferraro
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The correct answer is:
B) Ionic compounds form charged particles in solution, and electricity will only flow if charged particles are present.

In fact, in ionic compounds ions (which are charged atoms/molecules) are present in the solution, and these free charges can carry the electricity through the solution. Viceversa, in covalent compounds the valence electrons of the atoms are bound togethere between two atoms, so there are no free charges in the solution and electricity cannot flow.
User Aleksey Vlasenko
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