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Short Answer:
Conductivity in salt water and tap water is the result of movement of charges (positive and negative) which are ions in the liquid. This is different than electrons moving in wires. Salt water has more ions than tap water, so more charge carriers and more conductivity.
Longer Answer:
The electrical conductivity of water, whether in its pure form or with dissolved ions like salt, is explained as the movement of charged ions and not in terms of transport of nearly-free
electrons as would be the case for a metal wire. With the application of a voltage, the electric field created in the liquid exerts a force on the ions, opposite directions for positives and negatives, and since this is a liquid, the ions move with relative ease. (Far less ease than electrons in a metal but far more than atoms in a solid.) Movement of these charges is the electrical current one measures. A lot of charges will result in a lot of current or a higher conductivity.
In pure water, the ions that are moving are the solvated protons in the form of H3O+ and hydroxide ions, OH
-. In other ionic solutions it is the dissolved ions themselves, for instance in salt water, sodium chloride dissociated into the ions Na+
and Cl-. In tap water, there are also other metals like calcium, magnesium and iron and anions like sulfates, bicarbonates and more, depending on the water source. All these cations and anions participate in the ionic motion and hence conductivity of the water.
Salt water has more conductivity that tap water because the number of charged ions is usually vastly larger in salt water.
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Why does seeds grow in regular water but not in salt water?
Seeds grow in regular water and not in salt water because regular water is more healthy than salt water.
What is the difference in salinity between salt water and fresh water environment?
To be blunt, salt water has a lot more salinity than fresh water.
Why do ships sink more in fresh water than in salt water in respect to freeboard?
It is because the fresh water has less density compared to that of salt water.
How does salt in water affect the boiancy of an egg?
as the salt dissolves in the water the water becomes more dense, so the egg will be more buoyant. (at least you tried to spell it correctly)
Can an egg float better with salt?
An egg will sink in fresh water. Salt water is denser than fresh water, which allows the egg to float.
Can water dissolve more sugar or salt?
More sugar can dissolve in water than salt.
Why do ships sink more in fresh water than in salt water in respect to?
Salt water is more dense than fresh water. So when you're in salt water you float more than when you are in fresh water
Why is salt water more dense than freash water?
Because of the salt - salt is denser than water.
What happens when you mix salt and water for a day?
It depends if you have more salt than water, or more water than salt, Salt will dissolve into the water either way. But if you have more salt it will turn into a wet clump of salt with dried pieces here and there.
Why saltwater is denser than the freshwater?
Salt water is more dense than fresh water because salt water has more mass than fresh water.
Is salt water less dense than tap water?
salt water is more dense than tap water
Since salt dissolves in water does this decrease its density?
Salt water will be more dense than the water, but less dense than the salt.
During the first executions by electric chair the victims were forced to immerse their hands in salt water why?
I'm guessing salt water has better conductivity properties than water. Back then, they wanted the maximum damage, therefore they wanted something with good conductivity. For better answers, go to a search engine and look up salt water conductivity, or you can go to ask.com and ask the same question. Maybe try first executions by electric chair on a search engine too.
Is warm salt water more dense than cold salt water?
Cold water is more dense.
Why salt is a conductor of electricity?
Conductivity of water is due by the capacity of every organic and mineral ion to conduct electricity. As sodium ions and chlorine ions (composing the salt) are good conductors also minerals, salted water will have a better conductivity than drinking water. Pure Water will not conduct electricy because of the lack of minerals ions.
How does salt water have an effect on buoyancy?
the salt water has more density than fresh, so it can carry more weight than fresh water.
What effects does salt have on water?
No major effects. The salt water and the water join to become a less concentrated salt solution than the salt water but a more concentrated salt solution than the regular water.
