* Ionic Nature: Salt (sodium chloride, NaCl) is an ionic compound. This means it's made of positively charged sodium ions (Na+) and negatively charged chloride ions (Cl-) held together by electrostatic forces.
* Melting and Ion Mobility: When salt melts, the strong electrostatic forces holding the ions together weaken, allowing the ions to move freely. This mobility of charged particles is essential for electrical conductivity.
* Electron Flow: In molten salt, the electrical current is carried by the movement of these ions. The positively charged ions move towards the negative electrode (cathode), and the negatively charged ions move towards the positive electrode (anode).
Therefore, molten salt is a good conductor of electricity due to the presence of mobile ions.
Important Note: Solid salt is a poor conductor of electricity because the ions are locked in a rigid crystal lattice and cannot move freely.