What is added to pure water to allow it to conduct electricity in electric boilers?

In electric boilers, pure water is typically not a good conductor of electricity due to its lack of ions. To enable it to conduct electricity, substances called electrolytes are added. Sodium chloride (NaCl) is a common choice because it dissolves readily in water, dissociating into sodium and chloride ions. These ions are charged particles that move freely in the water, allowing it to conduct electricity effectively.

While other options such as calcium chloride (CaCl2), potassium chloride (KCl), and magnesium sulfate (MgSO4) also serve as electrolytes, NaCl is often favored because of its availability, low cost, and efficient ionization in water. It is important to consider the specific application and chemical properties when selecting an electrolyte, but in general terms, NaCl is widely recognized and used for this purpose in electric boilers, making it the most common choice.