1. Lesson 25 Why do some liquids conduct electricity?

2. Solutions of acids, bases, and salts conduct electricity. Solids of acids, bases and salts do not. Neither do liquids like alcohol, sugar water, distilled water and glycerine.

3. Why do solutions of acids, bases and salts conduct electricity? Matter is made of atoms. Sometimes atoms join together to form molecules.

4. Most atoms and molecules have no electrical charge. They are neutral. The atoms of substances that are not acids, bases, or salts stay neutral, even when they dissolve.

5. When an acid, base, or salt dissolves, its atoms do not stay together. The atoms unlock. Whey they unlock, they do not stay neutral.

6. They take on electrical charges. Some take on a positive charge. (+) Some a negative charge. (-) Charged atoms are called ions.

7. Ions let electricity pass through a solution. Solutions that have ions are called electrolytes. Liquid acids, bases, and salts form ions. That is why they conduct electricity.

8. Liquids such as alcohol, sugar water, distilled water, and glycerin do not form ions. That is why they do not conduct electricity. They are non-electrolytes.