Question

Copper conducts electricity, while sugar, C6H12O6, does not. Can you explain why this is so in terms of structure and/or bond types.

Answer 1

Sugar is formed through covalent bonds since there are no metal ions for the conduction of electricty. There are also no delocalized electrons within sugar that allow for the flow of electricty

Answer 2

Copper has metallic bond and conducts electricity whereas sugar has covalent bond and does not conduct electricity.

Step-by-step explanation:

Copper is a metal. Metallic bonding allows the conduction of electricity. In metals electrons are loosely bond to an array of metallic cations. The loosely bound electron clouds are responsible for the conduction of electricity.

Sugar has covalent bonds. In a covalent bond there is a shared pair of electron between two electronegative atoms. As the electrons are mutually shared they are not readily available for the conduction of electricity.