As a specialist in the field of chemistry with a focus on the properties of substances, I can provide a detailed explanation regarding the conductivity of salt in water.

Water in its pure form is a poor conductor of electricity due to the lack of free ions. It is a polar molecule, meaning it has a positive and a negative end, but the molecules do not dissociate into ions under normal conditions. However, when impurities such as table salt, or sodium chloride (NaCl), are introduced to water, the situation changes significantly.

Sodium chloride is an ionic compound composed of sodium (Na+) and chloride (Cl-) ions. When it dissolves in water, it undergoes a process called dissociation. This process involves the separation of the ionic compound into its constituent ions. The positively charged sodium ions (Na+) and the negatively charged chloride ions (Cl-) are released into the water, increasing the number of free-moving ions in the solution.

The presence of these ions is what enables the solution to conduct electricity. When an electric field is applied to the solution, the ions move towards the electrodes of opposite charge, creating an electric current. The conductivity of the solution is directly proportional to the concentration of ions present. The more salt that is dissolved, the more ions there are to carry the charge, and the better the solution conducts electricity.

It is important to note that the conductivity of the solution is not solely dependent on the presence of salt. Other factors such as temperature, the presence of other dissolved substances, and the purity of the water can also affect the solution's ability to conduct electricity. For example, increasing the temperature generally increases the kinetic energy of the ions, which can enhance conductivity. Similarly, the presence of other electrolytes can further increase the ionic strength of the solution.

In summary, while pure water is a poor conductor of electricity, the addition of table salt significantly enhances its conductivity due to the dissociation of the salt into its constituent ions. These ions are free to move within the solution and carry an electric charge when subjected to an electric field, thus allowing the solution to conduct electricity effectively.

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Pure water contains very few ions, so it does not conduct electricity very well. When table salt is dissolved in water, the solution conducts very well, because the solution contains ions. The ions come from the table salt, whose chemical name is sodium chloride.read more >>