Question

Give reason for the following:

Ionic compounds do not conduct electricity in solid state.

Why do ionic solids not conduct electricity in solid state?

Answer 1

1. Ionic solids do not conduct electricity in the solid state because their ions are fixed in a rigid lattice and are not free to move. 
2. In the solid state, the positively and negatively charged ions in an ionic solid are held together by strong electrostatic forces in a fixed position.
3. Moving charged particles carry electric current, and since the ions in a solid are immobile, the solid cannot conduct electricity.
4. However, when the ionic solid is melted (molten state) or dissolved in water, the ions become free to move, allowing the solid to conduct electricity in these states.