1) Sodium chloride is giant ionic structure. In a giant ionic structure, ions were held together by strong and non-directional electrostatic force (ionic bond 離子鍵). As the bond bonding the ions in Sodium Chloride is ionic and strong, a lot of energy is required to break these bonds. Therefore 氯化鈉的熔點高達808度。
2) Table salt will conduct electricity under two situations
- Molten form (melted)
- Aqueous form (dissolved in water)
- For molten form:
Because the cations (sodium ion) and anions (chloride ion) became mobile in molten form, the can carry charges and conduct electricity.
- In aqueous solution:
Sodium chloride dissociated into Na+ and Cl-, and the ions became mobile. So they can conduct electricity.