Question

Give reasons for the following.
(a) Operating electrical appliances with wet hands is very dangerous.
(b) Sodium chloride solution is a good conductor of electricity.
(c) Pure water is a poor conductor of electricity.

Answer 1

(a). Operating electrical appliances with wet hands is very dangerous as it may lead to electric shocks and even death. This is because water containing impurities is a good conductor of electricity. This makes wet skin several times more electrically conductive than dry skin.
(b). Sodium chloride is a salt, which is a poor conductor of electricity in its solid phase. However, when the salt is dissolved in water, they form sodium and chloride ions. Ions are charged particles which accommodate the flow of electric current in the salt solution. Therefore, sodium chloride solution acts as a good conductor of electricity.
(c). Pure water is a poor conductor of electricity because it has very few ions in it to conduct electricity.