How do covalent bonds conduct electricity?
1 Answer
Jul 14, 2014
Hello and thanks for the question.
Covalent compounds do not conduct electricity. We tried some experiments in class last year where we tested various compounds and their solutions. If the solution had ions in it, a light bulb came on. The more ions the solution had, the brighter the bulb.
Sodium chloride in solution will produce sodium ions and chloride ions. The light bulb was very bright.
When we put sugar into solution, the light bulb did not light up. The reason for this is that the molecules will come apart from other molecules, but the sugar molecule itself will not come apart (will not dissociate). No ions were formed, thus no electrical conductivity. Water had the same result.
Hope this helps.
