What must a solution contain in order to conduct electricity?


Quick Answer

According to Boundless, solutions must contain a high amount of ions in order to conduct electricity. Salts, acids or bases, if dissolved in a solvent such as water, release ions and form an electrolyte solution.

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Full Answer

Nonelectrolyte solutions are incapable of conducting electricity due to the bonds of the solute being covalent instead of ionic. Electrolytes are classified into two groups: strong or weak. If an electrolyte compound does not entirely dissolve within a solution, it releases only a small amount of ions, thus leading to poor conductivity and rendering it weak. Strong electrolytes, by comparison, release all of their ionic bonds when dissolved.

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