Which compound will conduct electricity when it is dissolved in water?

A. [tex] CH_4 [/tex]

B. [tex] CuSO_4 [/tex]

C. [tex] C_6H_6 [/tex]

D. [tex] C_6H_{12}O_6 [/tex]



Answer :

To determine which compound will conduct electricity when dissolved in water, let's analyze each option:

1. Methane ([tex]$CH_4$[/tex]): Methane is a simple molecular compound composed of carbon and hydrogen. Molecular compounds typically do not dissociate into ions in water. Since methane molecules do not break into ions, they cannot conduct electricity.

2. Copper(II) sulfate ([tex]$CuSO_4$[/tex]): Copper(II) sulfate is an ionic compound. When dissolved in water, ionic compounds dissociate into their constituent ions. In the case of [tex]$CuSO_4$[/tex], it dissociates into [tex]$Cu^{2+}$[/tex] and [tex]$SO_4^{2-}$[/tex] ions. These ions are charge carriers that allow the solution to conduct electricity.

3. Benzene ([tex]$C_6H_6$[/tex]): Benzene is another molecular compound. Like methane, benzene does not dissociate into ions when dissolved in water. Therefore, benzene cannot conduct electricity in an aqueous solution.

4. Glucose ([tex]$C_6H_{12}O_6$[/tex]): Glucose is a molecular compound as well. It dissolves in water to form a solution, but it does not dissociate into ions. As a result, a glucose solution cannot conduct electricity.

From this analysis, we can conclude that only Copper(II) sulfate ([tex]$CuSO_4$[/tex]) is an ionic compound that dissociates into ions in water, enabling the solution to conduct electricity.

Therefore, the compound that will conduct electricity when it is dissolved in water is:

[tex]$CuSO_4$[/tex].