Question

Why ethanol conduct electricity?

Answer 1

Dear Student

Ethanol, isopropyl alcohol or isopropanol is categorised as a polar solvent because it has a long OH (alcohol) chain. Pure ethanol, similar to pure water is a poor conductor of electricity. It does not dissociate into ions and also, it hardly shows presence of electrolytes, although a negligible numbers of electrolytes are formed on account of the auto-ionization. Due to this, the charge cannot be carried through the ethanol. It is therefore, regarded as covalent and not acidic, and thus, is a poor conductor of electricity. Moreover, the impurities present in the ethanol solution may substantially account for an increase in its conductivity but that too is not much appreciable.

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