Question

What is the difference between the electrical properties of salts, metals, and acids?

(a) Salts are good conductors of electricity when dissolved in water, while metals are good conductors of electricity in both solid and liquid states. Acids are poor conductors of electricity in both solid and liquid states.
(b) Salts are electrolytes, meaning they dissociate into ions in water and conduct electricity. Metals are good conductors of electricity due to their free electrons. Acids are electrolytes when dissolved in water, but they are poor conductors of electricity in pure form.
(c) Salts are insulators, meaning they do not conduct electricity. Metals are good conductors of electricity due to their delocalized electrons. Acids are electrolytes when dissolved in water, but they are poor conductors of electricity in pure form.
(d) Salts are semiconductors, meaning they have electrical conductivity intermediate between insulators and conductors. Metals are good conductors of electricity due to their band gap. Acids are insulators when dissolved in water, but they are poor conductors of electricity in pure form.

Answer 1

Salts are electrolytes that dissociate into ions in water and conduct electricity. Metals are good conductors of electricity due to their free electrons. Acids are electrolytes when dissolved in water, but they are poor conductors of electricity in pure form.

Step-by-step explanation:

(b) Salts are electrolytes, meaning they dissociate into ions in water and conduct electricity. Metals are good conductors of electricity due to their free electrons. Acids are electrolytes when dissolved in water, but they are poor conductors of electricity in pure form.

Salts, such as table salt (NaCl), are composed of ions and dissociate into those ions when dissolved in water. The presence of these ions allows them to conduct electricity. Metals, on the other hand, have mobile electrons that can move freely and conduct electricity in both solid and liquid states. Acids, like hydrochloric acid (HCl), can also dissociate into ions when dissolved in water, making them electrolytes. However, in their pure forms, acids are poor conductors of electricity.