Question

Distilled water is a poor conductor of electricity. Which of the following can be added to distilled water to make it a good conductor?

• A. Common salt
• B. Sugar
• C. Oil
• D. Kerosene

Answer 1

The correct option is A Common salt

Distilled water, completely free of all salts, is a bad conductor of electricity. To make it conducting, it should have ions to carry charges. Salts, when dissolved in water, can produce ions that can carry electricity. The chemical formula of common salt is NaCl (sodium chloride). It dissociates into sodium ion and chloride ion which acts like charge carriers and helps to conduct electricity.

Sugar, oil, and kerosene do not form ions in water and hence, cannot help in conducting electricity.