Distilled water does not conduct electricity because it is a pure form of water and lacks ionic species, while rainwater conducts electricity because it contains dissolved impurities like salts and acids that form ions, allowing for the flow of electric current.
Here’s a more detailed explanation:
Distilled water:
Distilled water is created by removing all dissolved impurities, including salts, acids, and minerals, from water. These impurities are essential for electricity to flow because they form ions (charged particles) that can move and carry electrical current. Since distilled water is pure, it doesn’t contain these ions, and therefore cannot conduct electricity.
Rainwater:
Rainwater collects impurities from the atmosphere, such as dissolved salts, acids, and other dissolved substances, according to Doubtnut. These impurities dissolve and form ions, which allow rainwater to conduct electricity. For example, rainwater can pick up carbon dioxide from the air, forming carbonic acid, which then dissociates into hydrogen and carbonate ions, enabling the conduction of electricity.