Question

Explain why solid silver nitrate does not conduct electricity while silver nitrate solution does?

Answer 1

$AgN{{O}_{3}}$ is the chemical formula for silver nitrate, an inorganic substance. This salt may be used to make a variety of silver compounds, including those used in photography. It is far less light sensitive than halides. It was previously known as lunar caustic because ancient alchemists referred to silver as luna and linked it with the moon. The silver ions are three-coordinated in a trigonal planar configuration in solid silver nitrate.

Complete answer:
If there is a path for charge to travel through a substance, it can conduct electricity. A charge carrier, such as an electron or an ion, must be free to travel inside a substance in order for it to conduct electricity.
Let us now look at the characteristics of ionic compounds in both solid and molten forms.
Ionic compounds transmit electricity in their molten or dissolved states because they include charged particles called cations and anions. These ions are unrestricted in their ability to conduct electricity. In the molten or dissolved state, there are many free ions that can conduct electric current.
The mobility of ions is limited in the solid state because they are bound together in fixed locations by strong electrostatic forces and are unable to move freely.
Ionic compounds conduct electricity in a molten state or a solution because the electrostatic forces of attraction between oppositely charged ions are overcome by heat, but they do not conduct electricity in a solid state.
Silver nitrate is an ionic chemical, which means its molecules are packed so densely together that they can't transport charge, whereas the electrons in its aqueous solution are free to travel and so carry the charge.

Note:
It's important to remember that just because ionic compounds conduct electricity similarly in their molten and dissolved states doesn't mean they're the same. Because electrostatic forces of attraction are overcome by heat in the molten state, but in the dissolved state, these forces are relatively weak due to the medium in which they operate.