The picture shows the supplies that a student used to create a circuit. There are two electrodes, one of them is connected to the light bulb, while the other electrode is connected to a battery, and that battery is connected to the light bulb. The student recognizes that if they put the electrodes into the deionized water, it will not conduct electricity and his circuit will not work. Into which compound could the student mix the water to make their circuit operational?

Question

A. The student should mix NaCl (salt) into the water because it is a covalent compound that will dissociate in water, allowing the water to conduct electricity.
B. The student can mix NaCl (salt) into the water since it is an ionic compound that will dissociate in water, enabling the water to conduct electricity.
C. The student should mix C6H12O6 (sugar) into the water since it is an ionic compound that will dissociate in water, enabling the water to conduct electricity.
D. The student should mix C6H12O6 (sugar) into the water since it is a covalent compound that will not dissociate in water, preventing the water from conducting electricity.

Answer 1

The correct answer is:

B. The student can mix NaCl (salt) into the water since it is an ionic compound that will dissociate in water, enabling the water to conduct electricity.

Sodium chloride (NaCl) is an ionic compound, and when it is dissolved in water, it dissociates into its constituent ions (Na⁺ and Cl⁻). These free-moving ions in solution allow the water to conduct electricity, making the circuit operational. In contrast, sugar (C6H12O6) is a covalent compound that does not dissociate into ions when dissolved in water, so it would not help the water conduct electricity.