Electrical conductivity is a measure of the ability of a solution to carry a current. Current flow in liquids differs from that in metal conductors in that electrons cannot flow freely, but must be carried by ions. Ions are formed when a solid such as salt is dissolved in a liquid to form electrical components having opposite electrical charges. For example, sodium chloride separates to form Na+ and Cl- ions. All ions present in the solutions contribute to the current flowing through the sensor and therefore, contribute to the conductivity measurement. Electrical conductivity can therefore be used as a measure of the concentration of ionizable solutes present in the sample.
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