Electrical conduction in liquid and solid octadecane

Measurements of the electrical conductivity of n-octadecane in the liquid and solid phases are reported. The results indicate that ion transport predominates in the liquid phase and may also be important in the solid. An electrolytic purification process has been observed in both phases. The situation in the solid is complicated because defects formed in the solid during solidification from the melt appear to facilitate the transport of ions, causing the conductivity of the solid to be higher than expected.