Conductivity of Covalent Compounds
- Electric current is the flow of charged particles
- This usually refers to electrons, but it could also mean the flow of ions
- Collectively, they can be termed freely moving charged particles
- Most covalent compounds do not conduct electricity as they have no freely moving charged particles to carry the current
- They act as insulators and have many applications which rely on that property
- Covalent substances are used as electrical insulators in solid, liquid and gaseous form
- For example, sulfur hexafluoride is a dense gas used to insulate electrical transformers
- Silicone oils and liquid hydrocarbons are also used in electrical equipment
- Common insulators include the plastic coating around household electrical wiring:
Covalent compounds are used as insulating materials
- There are some exceptions to conductivity in covalent compounds
- Organic polymers have been developed which have multiple adjacent double bonds that allow electrons to migrate along the length of the polymer chains
- These unusual materials have potential uses as electronic components and biomedical applications