UPSC Prelims 2003·GS1·science-and-technology·science and technology

With reference to ionic compounds, consider the following statements: 1. Ionic compounds are insoluble in alcohol. 2. Ionic compounds in the solid state are good conductors of electricity. Which of these statements is/are correct?

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  1. AOnly 1Correct
  2. BOnly 2
  3. CBoth 1 and 2
  4. DNeither 1 nor 2

Explanation

Statement 1 is correct because ionic compounds are polar in nature. According to the principle of like dissolves like, they dissolve in polar solvents like water but are generally insoluble in organic or non polar solvents such as alcohol, benzene, and kerosene. Statement 2 is incorrect because in the solid state, ions are held together in a rigid crystal lattice by strong electrostatic forces and are not free to move. Ionic compounds can only conduct electricity in a molten state or when dissolved in water, as the ions become free to move and carry an electric charge. Therefore, only the first statement is true, making A the correct option.
science-and-technology: With reference to ionic compounds, consider the following statements: 1. Ionic compounds are insoluble in alcohol. 2. Io
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