Insulators and Conductors

— a substance that allows electricity to pass through → electrical conductor

— a substance that does NOT allow electricity to pass through → electrical insulator

<aside> 📌 electricity → stream of electrons

</aside>

  1. The ONLY solids that conduct electricity:
  2. Molecular compounds + metals do NOT conduct electricity
  3. Ionic compounds do NOT conduct electricity in solid state but DO when dissolved or molten

WHY? - because ionic compounds contain ions BUT when in solid state, they are held in a tight lattice structure, and are unable to move

- when dissolved, or in molten state, the ions are free to move and transport the electric current

— when electricity flows through liquid ionic compound → decomposition (breaking down) → electrolysis

— liquid that conducts electricity → electrolyte

<aside> 📌 electrolysis → breaking down of compound using electricity

</aside>

Electrolysis

https://s3-us-west-2.amazonaws.com/secure.notion-static.com/65eb5c82-7caa-49d9-876c-673677d99e9b/electrolysis.gif

— cations attracted to anode

— anions attracted to cathode

— cations give up electrons, become neutral atom

— electrons that were given up go to cathode, passes to anions → becomes neutral atom

~ cations lose electrons → oxidation ~