As a chemical expert with a focus on physical properties of substances, I can provide you with a detailed explanation regarding the conductivity of ammonia in water.

Ammonia, with the chemical formula NH3, is a compound that is often discussed in the context of its solubility and reactivity in water. When ammonia dissolves in water, it undergoes a chemical reaction that leads to the formation of ions. This process is crucial for understanding whether an ammonia solution can conduct electricity.

Firstly, it's important to understand that the ability of a substance to conduct electricity is due to the presence of ions—charged particles—that can move freely when placed in an electric field. Pure water is a poor conductor of electricity because it dissociates into ions to a very small extent. However, when substances like ammonia are added to water, they can increase the solution's ionic content and, consequently, its conductivity.

When ammonia dissolves in water, it can react to form ammonium ions (NH4+) and hydroxide ions (OH-) through the following equilibrium reaction:

\[ \text{NH}_3 + \text{H}_2\text{O} \rightleftharpoons \text{NH}_4^+ + \text{OH}^- \]

This reaction is not very extensive, meaning that only a small amount of ammonia reacts to form ions. Despite this, the presence of these ions is what allows the ammonia solution to conduct electricity. The ammonium ion (NH4+) and the hydroxide ion (OH-) are capable of moving in response to an electric field, thus enabling the flow of electric current.

It's also worth noting that the conductivity of an ammonia solution is influenced by several factors, including the concentration of ammonia, the temperature, and the presence of other substances in the solution. Higher concentrations of ammonia will lead to more ions being formed, thus increasing the solution's conductivity. The temperature can also affect the degree of ionization and the mobility of the ions, with higher temperatures generally increasing conductivity.

Furthermore, the presence of other ions in the solution can affect conductivity through various mechanisms, such as by changing the dielectric constant of the solution or by participating in reactions that alter the concentration of free ions.

In summary, while pure ammonia does not conduct electricity, when it dissolves in water and reacts to form ions, it does create a solution that can conduct electricity. The conductivity is relatively low compared to strong electrolytes but is still significant enough to be measured under the right conditions.

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When sugar is dissolved in water, the solution does not conduct electricity, because there are no ions in the solution. Some substances that are made of molecules form solutions that do conduct electricity. Ammonia is such a substance. When ammonia dissolves in water, it reacts with the water and forms a few ions.read more >>