Water can decrease a substance’s resistance to the flow of electricity. true or false
The correct answer and explanation is:
Correct Answer: True
Explanation:
Water can decrease a substance’s resistance to the flow of electricity, especially when it contains impurities such as salts, minerals, or other dissolved ions.
Why?
Electrical resistance is the opposition to the flow of electric current. Pure water (distilled water) is actually a very poor conductor of electricity because it lacks free ions. However, in real-world situations, water is rarely pure. Even small amounts of dissolved salts or minerals (like sodium chloride, calcium, or magnesium compounds) break apart into positive and negative ions, which are excellent conductors of electricity.
These ions allow electric charges to move more freely through the water. As a result, the resistance decreases, and the conductivity increases.
Real-Life Applications and Risks:
- Household Electricity Hazards: If water comes into contact with electrical appliances or wires, it can cause electric shocks because the water allows current to flow where it normally wouldn’t.
- Human Body: Since the human body is composed of around 60% water and contains electrolytes, it becomes a conductor when wet, increasing the risk of electric shock.
- Industrial Use: In industrial and scientific applications, conductivity of water is often monitored. For example, ultrapure water is used in microchip manufacturing precisely because it doesn’t conduct electricity.
Conclusion:
In most practical scenarios, water reduces the resistance of materials by introducing conductive pathways. This is why water and electricity can be a dangerous combination, and why electronics are carefully protected from moisture. Therefore, the statement that “Water can decrease a substance’s resistance to the flow of electricity” is True.