Question

Science!

Pure water and pure salt are poor conductors of electricity. When salt is dissolved in water, the resulting solution conducts electricity well. Which statement explains why this occurs with these substances?(1 point)


The process of dissolving frees the electrons in the solution to move.



The process of dissolving frees the atoms in the solution to move.



The process of dissolving closely binds the ions in the solution.



The process of dissolving more closely binds the electrons in the solution.

Answer 1

The process of dissolving frees the electrons in the solution to move.

Step-by-step explanation:

The process of dissolving is known as "dissociation": the process in which ionic solids (salt, or sodium chloride is an ionic compound), separate into ions in a solvent. (water is the solvent).

When dissolved in water, the dissociation equation looks something like this:
`NaCl_((s))` ⇄
`Na^(+)_((aq))` +
`Cl^(-)_((aq))`

Before dissolving, sodium chloride (salt), was structured as positive cations (sodium) and negative anions (chloride) in a fixed lattice position. This results in the absence of mobile charge carriers, which is thus the reason why this doesn't conduct. However, after dissolution (dissociation), the ionic bonds are broken, producing mobile ions and thus conducting electricity.