Do polar compound conduct electricity?

[Heller123]

I was doing a DAT qvault exam and I got this question wrong. But I didn't think polar compounds conduct electricity. I thought only ionic compounds do.

Suggest an experiment that could distinguish a polar compound from a non-polar compound

A) Observe if the compound is attracted to a magnet

B) Attempt to dissolve the compound in lauric acid

C) Examine the compound with a microscope

D) Attempt to run an electrical current through the compound

E) Determine the compound's melting point

Explanation
Polar compounds will conduct electricity, nonpolar compounds are not conductors. Lauric acid will dissolve polar and non-polar compounds, so it is not a good test. Many polar compounds are not magnetic. Microscopic examination of a copound will not reveal it's polarity. And while polarity affects melting point, the mass of the compound also has a large effect, so melting point alone cannot tell a polar compound from a nonpolar one.

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[Heller123]

The answer is D btw!

 

[ktran17]

First off, ionic compounds only conduct electricity when dissolved!!! The presence of freely moving partial or fully charged species dictate the conductivity of an environment. Hence, if you want to conduct ionic compounds in no aqueous environments, you would have to melt them =)

For example, solid NaCl cannot act as a conductor, but instead its an insulator!! DIFFERENT

=)

I hope this helps 👍

 

[dsoz]

SOME covalent compounds can conduct electricity. If there are conjugated pi bonds (double, single, double, single...) then electrons can travel down the molecule. Graphite is a good example, as are carbon nano-tubes. The tail end of chlorophyll also comes to mind.

Keep in mind that this is really rare, and is an exception, not the rule.

dsoz

 

[chill45]

just remember, water can conduct electricity and it is polar

 

[dentistmom]

Actually, water can't conduct electricity. Most water does, though, because of the salutes in it.

 

[Krisko]

When you attempt to run a current through a substance what matters is its relative permittivity and dielectric which can be explain by wiki, and for polar molecules (water) this will be much higher than nonpolar (hexanes) and considerably more current will flow.

I think this is overkill, but what you should know is that current will flow through polar substances and will be resisted much more in nonpolar.

 

[bluesolic]

just remember, water can conduct electricity and it is polar

No, water doesn't conduct electrictiy but it usually does coduct and that's because water always is not pure. so pure water doesn't conduct !

 

[Krisko]

I hate to be this guy but pure water does conduct, just not as strongly as we believe. There is no such thing as "pure" water because it dissociates into ions H+ and OH-, and even though it is a small concentration of each ion it is enough to carry a charge

 

[chill45]

I hate to be this guy but pure water does conduct, just not as strongly as we believe. There is no such thing as "pure" water because it dissociates into ions H+ and OH-, and even though it is a small concentration of each ion it is enough to carry a charge

Well thank you Walter White lol. I was just using that example as a tool for the OP to remember which one does what.

 

[Krisko]

I agree, i think all that is important for OP to know for the DAT is polar will conduct