Electric conductivity

An electric current can only flow in a closed circuit from power source (e.g. battery) to the consumers (e.g. LED) through an electrical conductor.

The materials which carry the current within the circuit are mostly metal wires in cables.
Are there any liquids that conduct electricity? What conditions would have to apply? These two questions you should answer with the help of the following experiments.

Experiment

1.     Attach the battery clip to the terminals of the battery; touch the wires of the LED with the bare wire ends of the battery clip. (more see below) .

2.     Touch a piece of steel wool with the bare wire ends of the battery clip. Have some water in the tray.

3.     Fill the blister chambers with the water samples. Label them accordingly in advance.

4.     Build an open circuit using the battery to the clip, the alligator clips, the LED and the pin:
The negative terminal of the battery must be connected with the short wire of the LED; the pin connected to the positive terminal of the battery.

5.     Now dip the long wire of the LED and the pin together in the above described order in the six water samples.

First published: 2003                                                                          Last modification: 06.08.2014