Answer to Question #200506 in General Chemistry for Ignatius Adiulatan

Question

What is the difference between sodium chloride and paraffin wax in terms of conducting electricity in both sold state and molten state?

Answer 1

Sodium chloride -

1. Sodium chloride is the chemical name for salt. Sodium is an electrolyte that regulates the amount of water in your body. Sodium also plays a part in nerve impulses and muscle contractions. Sodium chloride is used to treat or prevent sodium loss caused by dehydration, excessive sweating, or other causes

2.. sodium chloride behaves as an insulator until it is nearly at its melting point, and then it readily conducts.

3.Molten sodium chloride conducts electricity because of the movement of the ions in the melt, and the discharge of the ions at the electrodes

4.Solid Sodium Chloride Does Not Conduct Electricity While Sodium Chloride Solution Conducts Because Solid Sodium Chloride Does Not Get Ionised To Conduct Electricity

Paraffin wax -

1.Paraffin wax is derived from petroleum and is odorless and tasteless. It is not soluble in water but can be miscible in ether or benzene.

2. It is excellent at heat transference and electrical insulation as it does not conduct a current at all. 

3. Paraffin wax is highly stable and although it can melt it is not flammable.

 4. Paraffin-wax remains an insulator even when it has melted. It is made up of long-chain molecules consisting of carbon and hydrogen atoms 

Usually paper cups are waxed, and wax is a poor conductor of heat (but better than air). It is probly thin and lets heat through.