Jeremy

Le, 10A ~ 1st Submission

Introduction:

Electricity is a form of energy that we use in our everyday lives. You could find it in a light bulb, a computer, a television or even your watch that you wear on your wrist. Everything that requires us to switch or turn on uses electricity in one way or another. The most common way to connect something to an electricity power source would be through the use of electric conductors, that is, a material that allows electricity to run through so it can be transported. To really understand electricity, we need to go in-depth into the chemistry aspects and physics elements of the atom, the building block of all matter. The atom consists of three subatomic particles: Protons positively charged particles Neutrons neutrally charged particles Electrons negatively charged particles The electric charge is a basic property of matter that applies to the subatomic particles of an atom. Protons are positively charged whilst electrons are negatively charged. Neutrons are neutral and have no charge. Figure 1 The electric charge of these basic elements play an important role in the study of electromagnetism, one of four fundamental forces of nature. It is important to understand the concept that two like charges will have a repelling effect. Two opposite charges will be drawn together. An example would be magnetism, which also follows the same concept. The like poles (in this diagram, the south poles) repel each other and the unlike poles (south and north pole) are attracted to each other. Similarly, like charges repel, unlike charges attract. Figure 2 While talking about electricity, the electron is the most important particle. Referring back to Figure 1, the electron is the outermost particle and is not part of the nucleus of the atom (where the protons and neutrons are). They, instead, are found whizzing around the nucleus despite the attraction force between the positive and negative charges of the protons and electrons, respectively. This gives rise to the next concept of electricity, the electric current. The movement of electric charge is called an electric current, which is actually what electricity is, the flow of electric charge. However, electric charge needs some way of moving, which is why the electron is so important. Because electrons are far removed from the nucleus, they can become loose and remove themselves from the particular atom altogether. This allows for electric charge, the negative charge of the electron, to be able to move and create an electric current.

Figure 3

Jeremy Le, 10A ~ 1st Submission The most common medium that we use to convey an electric current is through metals. Metals have a special property unique only to them that allows for electrical conductivity. The structure of a metal is basically made up of a lattice of positive ions (an atom with a positive charge due to missing electrons) surrounded by a sea of delocalised electrons (removed electrons). Electrons in a metal are free to move and this property is often exploited to conduct electricity. Many wires that you use for electricity are made out of metals.

Most materials on Earth, that are not metals, cannot conduct electricity or have a very high resistance against electric current. Salts (Ionic Bonding) do not differentiate from this statement; however, a change in physical property could potentially allow for electrical conductivity. The bonding between two or more ions, positively Figure 4 charged cations and negatively charged anions is called Ionic Bonding. This type of bonding is hugely dependent on the electromagnetic force of which was discussed early due to the requirement of charges to form a compound known as a salt. An ion is a charged atom that has either gained or loss an electron, usually in order to gain a full outer shell to stabilize itself, as such the behavior of all atoms. In Figure 4 is a sodium atom has loss an electron in order to complete its full outer shell of 8. Therefore, the sodium has become an ion with a positive charge of 1. Ionic compounds bond in such a way that the form very rigid 3D lattices. Therefore, it is almost impossible to apply an electric current to a salt because there are no delocalised electrons. However, if the physical properties of the salt were to change, such as if it was molten or dissolved into a solvent, the electrical conductivity is then made possible. When an ionic compound is melted, then the electrostatic attraction between the ions in the Figure 5 compound is ruptured due to the sheer amount of energy. This separates individual elements of the compound from each other; however, there are still no free moving electrons to be seen. Similarly, when a salt is dissolved into a solvent such as water (excellent solvent), the molecules attach themselves to the ions (hydrogen bonding) and then separate the ions away from each other to create a solution. Electrons cannot move freely. So what is the catch? The ions themselves are charged particles and therefore can create an effect similar to that of electrons in an electric current. In a solid state, these ions are locked in place and cannot move. When melted or dissolved, they become free to move and allow for electrical conductivity.

Jeremy Le, 10A ~ 1st Submission Aim: There are many misconceptions about the electrical conductivity of water and of salts. The following practical will be used to investigate the physical property of electrical conductivity of both water and ionic compound Sodium chloride (table salt) by allowing a measured current to pass through the solution. It was hypothesized that as the concentration of Sodium chloride (table salt) increases, the electrical conductivity of the solution increases. Water is a good solvent and will dissolve NaCl compound. The ions within the compound, being dissolved, will ionize the solution and all for electric charges to flow and create an electric current. Materials: 9 volt battery Ammeter 4 copper wires w/ attached probes (alligator hooks) Resistor Distilled Water Table Salt Beaker Electronic Weight Measuring containers Method: Before we start we must make the solution by dissolving salt into the distilled water. Our molar measurements include: 0.1M, 1M, 2M and 5M. The Molar Mass of NaCl is 58.44g. Dissolving 58.44g of NaCl into water will give you a 1M solution. 5.844g in 1L will give a 0.1M solution. 164.88g will give you 2M solution. 292.2g will give you 5M solution. 1. Set up circuitry of the experiment including the battery, ammeter, resistor and wires: a) Connect one end of wire to positive end of battery and the other to the ammeter. b) Connect one end of wire to negative end of battery and leave the other end as a probe. c) Connect one end of wire to the ammeter and the other end to the resistor. d) Connect one end of wire to the resistor and leave the other end as a probe. 2. Pour 200mL of 0.1M table salt solution into the beaker and place the two probes into the solution. 3. Turn on the ammeter and wait for 1 minute then record the reading in amperes (A). 4. Repeat again with 1M, 2M and 5M solutions, each recording results in amperes. 5. Repeat the entire experiment at least 3 times.

Jeremy Le, 10A ~ 1st Submission