How does sodium chloride have a high melting point and conduct electricity when dissolved in water?

Sodium chloride (NaCl), also known as table salt, has a high melting point due to its strong ionic bonds. In its solid state, each sodium ion is electrostatically attracted to several chloride ions, forming a lattice structure. These bonds require a significant amount of energy to break, resulting in a high melting point of around 801°C (1474°F).

When dissolved in water, sodium chloride dissociates into its constituent ions, sodium (Na⁺) and chloride (Cl⁻). These ions are free to move around in the solution. The mobility of these ions allows the solution to conduct electricity.

Conductivity in solutions arises due to the movement of charged particles (ions). In the case of sodium chloride dissolved in water, the sodium ions carry positive charge while the chloride ions carry negative charge. These ions move towards opposite electrodes when an electric field is applied, allowing the flow of electric current. Thus, sodium chloride solution is a good conductor of electricity.