USING WATER AS A CONDUCTOR FOR ELECTRICITY
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NAME AND SIGNATURE: SECTION:
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ACTIVITY OVERVIEW
Title
SALTWATER CIRCUIT: EXPLORING HOW SALTWATER CONDUCTS ELECTRICITY
(diagram)
Learning Objectives
By the end of the activity or lesson, students will be able to:
1. Describe how electric current flows not only through metal wires (via electrons) but also through liquid
solutions (via ions).
2. Identify the salt solution as a conductor of electricity and explain why pure water alone does not allow current
to flow.
3. Demonstrate how a complete electric circuit is formed using a saltwater solution as the conductor.
4. Compare the flow of electric current in solid conductors (like wires) and liquid conductors (like saltwater),
focusing on the type of charge carriers involved.
5. Analyze how increasing the concentration of salt (ions) in water affects the brightness of the bulb, showing a
connection between ion concentration and current flow.
USING WATER AS A CONDUCTOR FOR ELECTRICITY
Introduction
In this experiment, we explored how the conductivity of a solution, like saltwater, affects the flow of
electricity. Electricity requires a pathway for charge carriers to move through, which is typically electrons in a
conductor like a metal wire. In saltwater, when salt (NaCl) dissolves, it breaks into ions, which can carry electric
charge. The more salt added, the more ions are available to carry the charge, allowing current to flow more easily
through the water. This is why the light bulb gets brighter as more salt is added — it indicates that the electric current
is increasing. In pure water, with very few ions, the current flow is limited, and the light bulb either doesn’t light up or
is dim, showing that fewer charge carriers make it harder for electricity to flow.
PHYSICS EXPERIMENT
Materials:
• 5 Clear plastic cups or beakers
• Distilled water
• Table salt (NaCl)
• Measuring spoon and graduated cylinder/clear container
• Conductivity tester (or simple circuit with battery, wires, and LED/bulb)
• Stirring rod
• Notebook/lab sheet
Activity Procedure
Step 1First, connect the battery to the light bulb using wires to make a simple circuit.
Step 2: Next, attach two electrodes to the ends of the wires. These will go into the water and act as the
contact points for electricity.
Step 3: Now, pour saltwater into a cup and submerge the two electrodes into the water, making sure they
don’t touch each other.
Step 4: For comparison, do the following:
For the first trial we will add 1g of salt every cup, but the water will remain constant
Label five cups: A, B, C, D, E.
Pour 100 mL of distilled water into each cup.
Add salt to each cup:
Cup A: 0g (control)
Cup B: 1g
Cup C: 2g
Cup D: 3g
Cup E: 4g
5. Stir each solution until salt is fully dissolved.
6. Test each solution using the conductivity tester and observe how bright light glows.
7. Record your observations.
For the next trial, we will add 50ml of water every 1g of salt that is added
1. Label five cups: A, B, C, D, E
2. Add 50ml of water and 1g of salt every cup
3. Cup A: 0g of salt in 50ml of water
• Cup B: 1g of salt in 100ml of water
• Cup C: 2g of salt in 150ml of water
• Cup D: 3g of salt in 200ml of water
• Cup E: 4g of salt in 250ml of water
4. Stir each solution until salt is fully dissolved.
5.Test each solution using the conductivity tester and observe how bright light glows.
USING WATER AS A CONDUCTOR FOR ELECTRICITY
6. Record your observations.
DATA TABLE
Data table when the amount of water remains constant while we add 1g of salt every cup.
CUP AMOUNT OF SALT AMOUNT OBSERVATION CONDUCTIVITY
WATER (mL) (g) (BRIGHTNESS OF LEVEL
LIGHT) (LOW/MED/HIGH)
A 100mL 0g
B 100mL 1g
C 100mL 2g
D 100mL 3g
E 100mL 4g
Data Table when we add 50Ml of water every time we add 1g of salt in every cup
CUP AMOUNT OF SALT AMOUNT (g) OBSERVATION CONDUCTIVITY LEVEL
WATER (mL) (BRIGHTNESS OF (LOW/MED/HIGH)
LIGHT)
A 50mL 0g Bulb did not light Very low
B 100mL 1g Bulb glowed lightly low
C 150mL 2g Bulb glowed lightly Low
D 200mL 3g Bulb glowed lightly Low
E 250mL 4g Bulb glowed lightly Low
GUIDED QUESTIONS
Understanding and Analysis
1. How does the concentration of salt in a water solution affect its electrical conductivity, and what is the precise
relationship between salinity (the amount of dissolve salt in water) and conductivity (the degree on which a specified
materials conducts electricity)?
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2. How does the dissolution of salt in water contribute to the electrical conductivity of the solution, leading to the
observed lighting of the bulb?
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USING WATER AS A CONDUCTOR FOR ELECTRICITY
3, What are the specific electrochemical reactions that occur at the electrodes in a saltwater circuit?
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4.Based on the chemical properties of salt and sugar, explain why salt enhances the electrical conductivity of water to
greater extent that sugar?
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Conductivity Comparison
1.Considering the fundamental principles of electrical conductivity and the distinct molecular compositions of
saltwater and pure water, analyze and predict the differences in the behavior of electric current when passed through
these two solutions. Justify your answer.
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2.How does the flow of electricity through salt water demonstrate the concept of electrolytes in action?
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