Answer

Aluminium oxide does not conduct electricity in the solid state because the Al3+ and O2– ions
cannot move freely. In the molten state, the ions are free to move about. Hence, aluminium oxide
conducts electricity when molten.

• A common mistake is to state that an ionic compound conducts electricity when molten because ‘the
molecules or ions can move’.
• Remember that a molten ionic compound contains positive and negative ions only, not molecules. It is
these mobile ions (ions which move about) that conduct electricity.
• Another common mistake is to state that an ionic compound conducts electricity when molten because
‘the ions and electrons can move’.
• Remember that there are no free electrons in ionic compounds.

TEST IT!

Section A: Multiple-Choice Questions

Choose the correct answer and write its letter in the brackets provided.

1. Which ion has the same number of electrons as the neon atom?

Ion O2– Na+ Cl –

Atomic number 8 11 17

A Na+ only
B Na+ and Cl –
C Na+ and O2–
D O2– and Cl – ( C )

2. Which of the following is true about the iron(II) ion, Fe2+, and the iron(III) ion, Fe3+?
A The compounds they form with the chloride ion, Cl –, have the same chemical formula.
B They have the same number of electrons.
C They have the same number of protons.
D They are formed from the iron atom by losing the same number of electrons. ( C )

3. Two elements, Z and Y, react to form a compound.

Z Y

What is the chemical formula of the compound?

A Z2Y
B Z2Y3
C ZY
D ZY2 ( A )

32 Worksheet 5 © 2013 Marshall Cavendish International (Singapore) Private Limited

(S)CMWB_05.indd 32 8/14/12 4:22 PM