Are covalent compounds capable of conducting electricity?

Covalent compounds typically do not conduct electricity in either their pure or dissolved forms. This is primarily due to the nature of covalent bonding, where atoms share electrons to form molecules. In contrast to ionic compounds, which dissociate into ions in water and can conduct electricity due to the movement of those charged particles, covalent compounds usually remain as whole molecules without producing free charges.

When dissolved in water, covalent compounds do not generate free mobile ions that are necessary for conducting electricity. Since the conducting ability relies on the presence of charged particles that can move freely, the absence of such ions means that covalent compounds do not conduct electrical current in solution. Additionally, even in their pure form, covalent compounds do not have a structure that allows for the movement of electrons that would create a current. As a result, they remain insulators, making them ineffective at conducting electricity under typical conditions.