A solution of sugar in water is a poor conductor of electricity, whereas a solution of table salt in water is a good conductor of electricity. What does this tell you about the bonding in the two substances
The Correct Answer and Explanation is:
The difference in electrical conductivity between sugar and table salt solutions highlights the nature of their bonding and the resulting behavior of their dissolved particles.
Sugar (sucrose) is a molecular compound with covalent bonds. In a covalent bond, atoms share electrons, creating a stable, neutral molecule. When sugar dissolves in water, the sugar molecules remain intact and do not break into charged particles. Since electrical conductivity in solution depends on the presence of free-moving charged particles (ions), sugar solution does not conduct electricity because the dissolved molecules do not carry an electric charge. The water molecules surround the sugar molecules, but no ions are formed, so the solution remains a poor conductor.
In contrast, table salt (sodium chloride, NaCl) consists of ionic bonds. In ionic bonding, electrons are transferred from one atom to another, leading to the formation of charged particles: cations (positively charged ions) and anions (negatively charged ions). When salt dissolves in water, the strong ionic bonds in NaCl break due to the polarity of water molecules. The positive sodium ions (Na⁺) and negative chloride ions (Cl⁻) separate and disperse throughout the solution. These ions are free to move and carry an electric charge, allowing the solution to conduct electricity efficiently.
In summary, the ability of a solution to conduct electricity depends on the presence of free-moving ions. Sugar solution does not conduct electricity because it forms neutral molecules in solution, while salt solution conducts electricity due to the formation of ions. The nature of bonding—covalent in sugar and ionic in salt—determines the behavior of each substance when dissolved in water.
