why pure water does not conduct electricity

Why Pure Water Does Not Conduct Electricity?

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As it is said “Pure Water Doesn’t conduct electricity” is true. But whenever you touch the water having a contact with electricity, you get an electric shock. You might think how? The water appears pure and clear but how do you get the electric shock? This is due to the ions. You might get confused about what is between pure water and water with ions. So, in this blog, I am going to guide you about Why pure water does not conduct electricity.

Although pure water is not a conductor by itself, it can become one in the presence of impurities or dissolved materials. These contaminants, which include minerals or salts, release ions into the water, enabling it to conduct electricity. Now let’s explore and discover if clean water can conduct electricity or not.

About Water: The Basics of Human Life

Water is a generally recognized excellent solvent since it can dissolve a wide range of compounds. It can dissolve more chemicals than any other liquid, it is frequently referred to as the “Universal Solvent.”

The majority of water that we come into contact with on a daily basis has some dissolved materials in it. Whether the water is from the shower, the kitchen tap, the swimming pool or another source, It is safe to presume that it has a significant concentration of chemicals, minerals and dissolved compounds.

The likelihood of your water being completely pure that is, devoid of all minerals, salts and contaminants is very low.

pure water

Why Pure Water Doesn’t Conduct Electricity?

As we all know, a passage of charge through a liquid is necessary for the flow of electricity across it. Since pure water is deionized, or that is completely “pure,” has no ions. Consequently, pure water does not conduct electricity since there is no charge that travels through it.

There are no ions and no contaminants in distilled water. There are just neutral molecules in the universe and they are chargeless. This is the reason why the conduction of electricity in pure water is difficult.

Explanation of Absence of Ions in Pure Water

Pure water’s distinct molecular structure is responsible for its lack of ions. Pure water has two hydrogen (H) atoms bound to one oxygen (O) atom making up a water molecule (H2O). The elements are joined together with Covalent bonds. It is created when these atoms share electrons. These covalent connections hold the molecules of pure water together, creating a stable and neutral structure.

As discussed above, pure water does not include ions that can carry an electric charge, in contrast to salts and other ionic substances. This is a result of the covalent connections in water molecules being difficult to separate into ions. Pure water therefore lacks the ions required for efficient electrical conductivity.

electricity conduction

Reasons Why Pure Water is a Poor Conductor of Electricity?

So far we have known that pure water cannot conduct electricity because it has no ions. Here, we will discuss why pure water does not conduct electricity. The reasons include:

Lack of Ion Formation

The absence of ion production during electrolysis is one of the primary causes of clean water’s inability to conduct electricity. The method of causing a chemical reaction in a substance by passing an electric current through it is called electrolysis. During the electrolysis process, water molecules are divided into hydrogen (H+) and hydroxide (OH-) ions.

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On the other hand, ions are present in minimal amounts in pure water. This is due to the great propensity of water molecules to remain whole as opposed to splitting into ions. A water molecule finds it challenging to split apart and produce ions due to the comparatively strong covalent connections that bind the hydrogen and oxygen atoms together.

Inability of Pure Water to Transfer Ion

The inability of pure water to move ions is another factor contributing to its non-conductive nature. A substance needs mobile charged particles, like ions, that can transport the electric current for it to conduct electricity. The movement of charge through a conductive media is caused by these ions.

There aren’t many mobile charged particles available to carry the electric current in pure water because of the low ion concentration. Because it lacks mobile ions, clean water cannot conduct electricity.

water conduction

Conclusion

In summary, pure water is a poor electrical conductor on its own. But when there are ions or other contaminants in the water, it can turn into a conductor. These contaminants, which include minerals or dissolved salts, give the water more conductivity by supplying charged particles that are capable of conducting electricity. This occurs as a result of these materials releasing more ions into the water, which permits the flow of electric current. 

If you are interested in getting pure water delivered to your home, Mentor Water Experts is your saviour. We will help you choose the best kind of Water purifiers, water treatment facilities, effluent treatment plants and swimming pool equipment. Contact us at 7351002123 and let us guide you in everything you need. 

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