Question

How do the aqueous solutions of molten ionic compunds conduxt electricity?

Answer 1

Electrical conductivity specifies the movement of charged particles...

Explanation:

And in the solid state, the charged particles that form an ion, i.e. `M^(+)X^(-)(s)` are not free to move...however, many ions can be solvated by chemical reaction with a solvent....and the typical solvent for ionic species is water...

`M^(+)X^(-)(s)stackrel(H_2O)rarrM^+(aq) +X^(-)(aq)`

The individual ions are `"solvated"`, i.e. `"aquated"` by several water molecules...and these ions are certainly competent to conduct a current.

And if we pump in enuff heat to the system, we could produce the salt in its liquid state (for instance I think that the normal melting point of sodium chloride is `801` `""^@C`)...and the MELT would also conduct electricity, propagated by the passage of the molten ions....