Question

Explain how conduction of electricity take place in the following
(a)iron metal
(b) molten lead (Ii)iodide

Answers

GPT-4o mini
The conduction of electricity occurs through different mechanisms in various materials. Here’s how it takes place in iron, molten lead, and lead(II) iodide:

### (a) Conduction in Iron Metal

**Mechanism:**
- **Free Electrons:** Iron, like other metals, has a crystalline structure that allows electrons to move freely. These are often referred to as "free electrons" or "conduction electrons."
- **Metallic Bonding:** In iron, the outermost electrons are not bound to any specific atom; instead, they are delocalized and can move through the metal lattice. This delocalization is a characteristic of metallic bonding.
- **Electrical Conduction:** When an electrical potential is applied across a piece of iron, the free electrons gain energy and flow through the material from the negative terminal to the positive terminal, thus allowing the conduction of electric current. The more free electrons available, the better the material conducts electricity.

### (b) Conduction in Molten Lead (II) Iodide

**Mechanism:**
- **Ionic Compounds:** Lead(II) iodide (PbI₂) is an ionic compound that consists of lead (Pb^2+) cations and iodide (I^-) anions. In solid form, these ions are held in a rigid lattice structure and cannot move freely, which prevents electrical conduction.
- **Melting Process:** When lead(II) iodide is heated to its melting point, it transitions from a solid to a molten state. In this molten state, the ionic lattice breaks down, and the ions become free to move.
- **Electrical Conduction:** When the molten PbI₂ is subjected to an electric field, the Pb^2+ cations can move toward the cathode (negative electrode) while the I^- anions move toward the anode (positive electrode). This mobility of charged ions in the molten state enables the conduction of electricity.

In summary, in solid iron, conduction occurs due to the movement of free electrons, whereas in molten lead(II) iodide, conduction occurs through the movement of mobile ions (cations and anions) as the ionic solid melts into a liquid state.

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