Does water conduct electricity

[m4tty]

Hi,

Does water itself conduct electricity or is it the impurities/chemicals in the water that are conducting?

Thanks

 

[Marc]

Hi,Does water itself conduct electricity or is it the impurities/chemicals in the water that are conducting?

Thanks

I'd say it's the water itself, hence boats using the hull as an earth. Can't be that many chemicals in the sea for it to be otherwise, unless it's the salt. Anyone know how conductive salt is? ?:|

Edit: I stand corrected. http://www.suite101.com/blog/bobcajun/pure_water_not_good_conductor

 

[fletchflash]

minerals and sediment etc conduct electricity

pure water would not conduct

 

[Apache]

We have touched on the answer. If we take sea water as an example and assume it is just a salt solution NaCl breaks down in solution to Na+ and Cl-. It is the movement of these charged ions that allow water to conduct.

Pure water would insulate.

 

[exbdc]

We have touched on the answer. If we take sea water as an example and assume it is just a salt solution NaCl breaks down in solution to Na+ and Cl-. It is the movement of these charged ions that allow water to conduct. Pure water would insulate.

But wouldn't the water itself ionise into Hydrogen & Oxygen as well?

 

[Apache]

But wouldn't the water itself ionise into Hydrogen & Oxygen as well?

Not really. The reason is that it's the water that the salt is in a solution in. There is nothing to dissolve the water in - if you get me.

 

[Apache]

Also hydrogen bonds [water] do not break apart in the same way that ionic bonds [salts] do.

 

[Apache]

This is why hydrogen fuel cells are only a good idea in theory! It takes so much energy to break they hydrogen bond that there is a net loss in energy when you break the hydrogen and oxygen apart!

 

[Lee321]

just watched a few videos of some nutters spraying a electric light bulb holder with some "dylectric spray" then putting it in water at the same time as their hand .FT

bad day explode

 

[Voltimax]

When I was an apprentice at college they always used to ask this question to catch you out. We were shown a video of a stripped down television placed into a tank of pure water. The television worked just fine.

 

[Andy™]

pure water does not conduct - its whats in the water that conducts

 

[ElectekAir]

Pure water does not conduct, but if you filled a glass and put a live cable into it it would boil the water very slowly once the water boils it conducts and will blow.

Add some salt or dirt and the effect is imidiatebad day explode

 

[Apache]

Pure water does not conduct, but if you filled a glass and put a live cable into it it would boil the water very slowly once the water boils it conducts and will blow.Add some salt or dirt and the effect is imidiatebad day explode

No. That wouldn't happen. I promise.

Remember the great excperiment, Special Location 2008

Just as at the end of the news.. they normally have the more light hearted new items..

We could finish this thread with a nice little schoolboy's practical illustration..

Apparatus:

1 x 230v Supply

3 x Bits of wire

1 x Small tub of Tap water

1 x Light bulb and holder

1 x El-cheepo Maplins Multimeter

Method:

Connect a circuit from supply through tub of water, then to bulb, & back to supply.

Connect multimeter between Neutral and the tub of water, (set on AC voltage).

wired like this

Switch on power.

Results:

The light lights.. electricity travels through tap water.

It can be seen that the water was at 215v ac potential with ref to neutral.

Conclusions:

The tap water conducted mains electricity..

Because 215v is above the generally accepted safe 50v touch voltage

and is almost within the acceptable supply voltage range 216v-253v...

DON'T PUT YOUR FINGER IN THE WATER!!! :^O :^O

Comments:

The tub is plastic & approx 50mm square,

the tap water had no additives.. (as supplied by Mr severn & Mr trent!).

Other points for consideration:

Why hasn't Spec Loc got something better to do.? :|

Why isn't he working out the cost for the quotes he should be writing? ?:|

Why has he used RED wires for LIVE AND NEUTRAL connections to the snap block?

Why is he so easily led into fruitless exercises by Extn 15!? :^O

DISCLAIMER:

Children please do not try this at home!.. Ask an adult for assistance ; \

 

[ElectekAir]

No. That wouldn't happen. I promise.Remember the great excperiment, Special Location 2008

Well we did this in college, 15 years ago and tap water has added impurities.

In South Africa where we did this the CL levels are much higher than here.