As a domain expert in the field of chemistry and physics, I'm delighted to provide an in-depth explanation on the nature of water and its electrical conductivity. Water, in its purest form, is a polar molecule due to the difference in electronegativity between oxygen and hydrogen atoms. This polarity allows water to act as a solvent for many substances, but it does not inherently conduct electricity. However, the presence of impurities or dissolved ions can significantly alter its electrical properties.

Pure Water and Electrical Conductivity
Pure water, which is essentially H2O without any dissolved substances, does not conduct electricity well. This is because it lacks free ions that are necessary for the flow of electric current. Pure water is a poor conductor of electricity due to the strong hydrogen bonds between water molecules that keep the electrons tightly bound within the molecular structure.

The Role of Impurities
The introduction of impurities, such as salts, minerals, or other dissolved substances, can dramatically increase the electrical conductivity of water. For example, salt water contains sodium chloride (NaCl), which dissociates into sodium (Na+) and chloride (Cl-) ions when dissolved in water. These ions are free to move and carry an electric charge, thereby enabling the water to conduct electricity.

Distilled Water
Distilled water is produced by boiling water and then condensing the steam back into a liquid. This process removes most impurities and dissolved substances, resulting in water that is composed almost entirely of H2O molecules. Since there are very few, if any, free ions present, distilled water is a poor conductor of electricity.

Types of Water and Their Conductivity

1. Tap Water - Typically contains various dissolved minerals and impurities, making it a good conductor of electricity.

2. Bottled Water - The conductivity can vary depending on the source and treatment process of the water. Some bottled waters may be similar to tap water, while others might be closer to distilled water in purity.

3. Mineral Water - Naturally contains dissolved minerals that can increase its conductivity.

4. Deionized Water - It has had its ions removed through a deionization process, making it similar to distilled water in terms of purity and electrical conductivity.

Factors Affecting Conductivity
Several factors can affect the electrical conductivity of water, including temperature, pressure, and the concentration of dissolved substances. Generally, as the temperature increases, the conductivity of water also increases due to the increased kinetic energy of the molecules, which facilitates the movement of ions.

Conclusion
In summary, the type of water that does not conduct electricity well is pure water, such as distilled or deionized water, which lacks the ions necessary for electrical conduction. The presence of impurities or dissolved ions, as found in tap water, salt water, or mineral water, significantly enhances conductivity.

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Salt water has salt in it, NaCl, which readily ionizes or dissociates to ions of Na+ and Cl- that can float through the water carrying charge and thus conduct electricity. Distilled water is water that was boiled to steam and recondensed to water. So distilled water is relatively pure H2O.May 10, 2009read more >>