Question

Explain why a salt which does not conduct electricity in the solid state becomes a good conductor in a molten state.

Answer 1

The ions of salt in the solid state are bonded with strong inter-particle forces. Hence, they are not free to move in a solid state and cannot conduct electricity. However, when this salt melts, its constituent ions get separated from each other. Thus, they are free to move across the melted salt and conduct electricity.