Why things conduct electricity

3 marks · Normal

Ammonia, NH3, is a covalent compound. Predict whether ammonia conducts electricity in any state, and explain your reasoning.

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Also accept: Ammonia does not conduct in liquid or solid state because it does not have ions or free electrons.

Common mistakes: Confusing with ionic compounds; Incorrectly stating covalent compounds conduct

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Marking points

B1 · 1 mark · Predicts ammonia does not conduct electricity in any state.

M1 · 1 mark · States ammonia is a covalent compound.

M2 · 1 mark · Explains that there are no charged particles (ions or delocalised electrons) free to move.

Worked solution

Ammonia does not conduct electricity in any state.

This is because ammonia is a covalent compound.

Covalent compounds do not have ions or free electrons, so there are no charged particles to carry current.