Question

HCl is a gas at room temperature and does not conduct electricity. Yet when dissolved in water, the solution becomes an excellent conductor. Classify HCl as metallic, ionic, molecular or covalent network, and explain why HCl would conduct electricity in an aqueous solution.

Answer 1

I would classify HCl as a molecular compound. I also call HCl gas a polar covalent compound. It conducts electricity when placed in solution with H2O because it reacts with H2O to produce ions.
HCl(g) + H2O(l) ==> H3O^+(aq) + Cl^-(aq)