Scribd
Upload
51 views3 pages

Conductors

Conductors, particularly metals, exhibit high conductivity due to their atomic structure, which allows valence electrons to form a 'sea of electrons' that facilitates current flow when an electric field is applied. Excellent conductors possess properties such as high conductivity, low resistivity, and abundant free electrons, with common examples including silver, copper, and aluminum. The best conductors are silver, copper, gold, and aluminum, each with specific applications based on their conductivity and cost.

Uploaded by

Victory Ugwuezi
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
51 views3 pages

Conductors

Conductors, particularly metals, exhibit high conductivity due to their atomic structure, which allows valence electrons to form a 'sea of electrons' that facilitates current flow when an electric field is applied. Excellent conductors possess properties such as high conductivity, low resistivity, and abundant free electrons, with common examples including silver, copper, and aluminum. The best conductors are silver, copper, gold, and aluminum, each with specific applications based on their conductivity and cost.

Uploaded by

Victory Ugwuezi
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd

🔬 How Conductors Work (Atomic Level)

The high conductivity of materials, especially metals, is a result of their


atomic structure and bonding:

 Free Electrons: Conductive materials, particularly metals, have


valence electrons (outermost shell electrons) that are only weakly
bound to their parent atoms.

 Sea of Electrons: In the metallic bond structure, these valence


electrons become delocalized—they detach from their atoms and form
a "sea of electrons" that move randomly throughout the material's
lattice structure.

 Current Flow: When an electric field (voltage) is applied across the


conductor (e.g., connecting a wire to a battery), this field exerts a force
on the free electrons, causing them to drift in a coordinated direction.
This directional movement of charge is the electric current.

 Low Resistance: Conductors offer low electrical resistance


because the electrons can move with minimal opposition. The
occasional collisions between electrons and the fixed positive ions in
the lattice generate heat (Ohmic heating).

⚙️Properties of Excellent Conductors

Good electrical conductors share the following fundamental properties:

Property Description

High
A measure of a material's ability to conduct electric
Conductivity ($\
current. Conductors have a high value.
sigma$)

Low Resistivity A measure of how strongly a material opposes the flow of


($\rho$) current. Conductors have a low value.

Abundant Free Essential for carrying the electric charge when a potential
Electrons difference is applied.

Low Band Gap In conductors, the valence band (filled with electrons)
Property Description

and the conduction band (where electrons must be to


(Energy Band
move freely) overlap, meaning electrons need virtually
Theory)
no external energy to conduct.

🌟 Common Types and Examples

Conductors are categorized based on their composition and charge carrier


type:

Type of Primary Typical


Key Examples
Conductor Charge Carrier Applications

Silver (best), Wiring, contacts,


Metals (Most
Free Electrons Copper (most used), power transmission
Common)
Gold, Aluminum lines

Positive and Salt water, battery Batteries, fuel cells,


Electrolytes
Negative Ions acid, molten salts electroplating

Delocalized Graphite (an Electrodes, dry cell


Non-Metals
Electrons allotrope of Carbon) batteries

Cooper Pairs (at Niobium-Titanium


Superconducto MRI machines,
low alloys, Magnesium
rs high-speed trains
temperature) Diboride

Top Electrical Metals

The best conductors, in order of conductivity, are:

1. Silver (Ag): Best overall conductor, but too expensive for general use.

2. Copper (Cu): The industry standard for wiring due to its excellent
conductivity, ductility, and relatively low cost.

3. Gold (Au): Highly valued in high-end electronics and connection


terminals for its excellent conductivity and resistance to corrosion
(tarnishing).

4. Aluminum (Al): Used primarily in high-voltage, long-distance power


transmission lines due to its light weight and low cost, despite being
less conductive than copper by volume.
If you'd like to see a visual breakdown of how electrons move to create
current in a wire, check out Conductors and Insulators.

You might also like