What type of chemical bond is present in a solid compound that does not conduct electricity in the solid state but conducts electricity when dissolved in water?
The type of chemical bond present in such a compound is an ionic bond.
Ionic compounds do not conduct electricity in the solid state because their ions are held in fixed positions by strong forces. In this rigid structure, the ions are not free to move and carry an electric charge.
However, when these compounds are dissolved in water, the ions become free to move. Since conducting electricity requires free-moving ions, the aqueous solution of the ionic compound successfully conducts electricity.
Explanation
The textbook context explicitly states that ionic compounds do not conduct electricity in the solid state because their ions are held in fixed positions by strong forces. It further explains that to conduct electricity, ions must be free to move, which only occurs when ionic compounds are dissolved in water. This perfectly matches the conditions given in the question, confirming the bond type is ionic.
Solution Steps
Step 1: Analyze the given properties of the compound (does not conduct in solid state, conducts when dissolved in water).
Step 2: Relate these properties to the context, which states ionic compounds have fixed ions in solid state but free-moving ions when dissolved in water.
Step 3: Conclude that the chemical bond present is an ionic bond.