Question

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) a. The process of dissolving more closely binds the electrons in the solution. b. The process of dissolving closely binds the ions in the solution. c. The process of dissolving frees the electrons in the solution to move. d. The process of dissolving frees the atoms in the solution to move.

Answer 1

d.

When salt (an ionic solid) dissolves, its lattice breaks apart and the ions are freed to move in the water. These mobile charged particles (ions) carry electric current; in contrast, electrons do not freely move in the solution and ions in a solid salt are fixed in the lattice.