Why is sulfur unable to conduct electricity under normal conditions?

• A. Sulfur contains a high concentration of mobile ions.
• B. Sulfur molecules are polar and easily dissociate in water.
• C. Sulfur is a metal with a sea of delocalized electrons.
• D. Sulfur atoms are held together by covalent bonds and lack free-moving electrons.

Answer: (D)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Understand that electrical conductivity in materials depends on the presence of charged particles that can move freely, such as free electrons or ions.
2. Recognize that metals conduct electricity because they have a 'sea of delocalized electrons' that are free to move throughout the metal lattice.
3. Note that sulfur is a nonmetal and its atoms are held together by covalent bonds, forming discrete molecules rather than a lattice with free electrons.
4. Since sulfur molecules do not have free-moving electrons or ions under normal conditions, they cannot conduct electricity.
5. Therefore, the key reason sulfur does not conduct electricity is that its electrons are localized in covalent bonds, preventing the flow of electric current.