Wiktor Wise
Whether or not a substance can conduct electricity is a physical property. Physical properties can be observed or measured without changing the chemical identity of a substance. Other examples of physical properties include colour, density, melting point, and boiling point. On the other hand, chemical properties describe a substance's ability to undergo a chemical change or reaction, resulting in a new substance. Flammability and reactivity are examples of chemical properties. Conductivity is not a chemical property because it does not involve a change in the composition of matter.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Being a good conductor of electricity | Physical property |
| Metals as good conductors | Silver is the best electrical conductor among pure elements |
| Metals as good conductors | Metal atoms are closely packed and their valence electrons can move freely |
| Metal examples | Copper, aluminium, gold, and silver |
| Non-metal examples | Diamond |
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What You'll Learn
Heat conductivity is a physical property
The thermal conductivity of a material quantifies its thermal inertia or how difficult it is to heat the material to a given temperature. It is typically measured in watts per meter-kelvin (W/(m⋅K)) in the International System of Units (SI). The reciprocal of thermal conductivity is thermal resistivity.
Materials with high thermal conductivity, like metals, allow heat to travel quickly, while insulators like wood, rubber, or Styrofoam have low thermal conductivity. This is because metals have free electrons that facilitate heat transfer, whereas insulators have structures that impede the flow of heat.
The relationship between thermal conductivity and temperature varies for metals and non-metals. In metals, heat conductivity is primarily due to free electrons, and it tends to remain constant or even decrease as temperatures increase. However, as temperatures approach absolute zero, the thermal conductivity of metals decreases sharply. On the other hand, non-metals rely on lattice vibrations (phonons) for heat transfer, and their thermal conductivity often increases with temperature.
Understanding heat conductivity is essential for various practical applications. For instance, materials with high thermal conductivity are used in heat sink applications, while materials with low thermal conductivity are used for thermal insulation.
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Metals are good conductors
Whether a material conducts electricity or not is indeed a chemical property. A good electrical conductor requires that the electrons in the material can move easily. Metals are good conductors of electricity because their electrons are free to move around more than one atom, a property known as delocalization. This is because at least one electron per atom is free—it is not tied to any particular atom but can move freely throughout the metal. The more free electrons in a metal, the greater its conductivity.
Silver is the best conductor of electricity because it has the highest number of movable atoms (free electrons). Copper is a cheaper alternative and is a common conductor in household appliances. Iron is also a good conductor as its electrons are free to move around. Platinum is another element with high electrical conductivity and is more ductile than gold, silver, or copper. It is less malleable than gold but has excellent resistance to corrosion and stable electrical properties.
Gold is also a good electrical conductor and doesn't tarnish when exposed to air, but it is expensive and therefore not commonly used. Zinc is only a moderately good conductor of electricity. Steel is a conductor, although it encases other conductors to provide protection as it is inflexible and corrosive when exposed to air. Lead is a metal that conducts electricity and is a poor insulator.
The distinction between conductors and insulators was first made by the English scientist Stephen Gray in 1729. A good insulator, such as glass, has all of its electrons tightly bound to fixed atoms, leaving no free electrons.
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Free-flowing electrons enable conductivity
Conductivity is the property of a material that lets electric current pass through it. Electric current is the flow of electrons in a conductor. The free movement of electrons is essential for conductivity.
In metals, the atoms are closely packed, and the valence electrons surrounding them can move quite freely. These free electrons are not bound to individual molecules as they are in molecular solids or insulating materials. Instead, they are free to move within the metal lattice. This is why metals are good conductors of electricity.
The ability of electrons to move freely is influenced by the structure of the material. In a conductor, the atoms are arranged in a lattice structure with many free electrons that can easily move through the material. On the other hand, in insulating materials, the outer electrons are not as free to move.
The movement of electrons in a conductor can be influenced by external factors such as electric fields and temperature. In the presence of an electric field, the free electrons in a metal can flow in a particular direction, creating an electric current. At room temperature, these electrons move randomly at an average speed of 106 metres per second.
To facilitate the flow of electrons in a desired direction, a proper path must be provided, similar to how a plumber installs pipes to direct water flow. Wires made of conductive metals like copper or aluminium provide this continuous path for electrons to travel through.
In summary, the free-flowing nature of electrons in certain materials, particularly metals, enables conductivity. The ability of electrons to move freely within a material's structure and the presence of a continuous path for their flow are key factors in determining a material's conductivity.
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Silver is the best conductor
Conductivity is the measure of how easily an electric charge can pass through a material. A good electrical conductor requires that the electrons in the material can move easily. Metals are good conductors because their valence electrons can move freely.
Silver is the best electrical conductor of all elements. This is because its electrons are freer to move than those of other elements. Silver also has the highest thermal conductivity and highest light reflectance of any element.
However, silver is not widely used in electrical applications. This is because it is unstable and likely to tarnish over time, which reduces its conductivity. Silver will tarnish due to the humidity in the air, which is difficult to avoid in practical use. Copper and gold are more commonly used as electrical conductors because copper is less expensive and gold has a much higher corrosion resistance. Gold is chemically inert and does not tarnish or corrode, so it is used in electronics despite being a worse electrical conductor than silver.
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Gold is used in computing
Gold is a highly sought-after metal due to its rarity and special properties. It is widely used in computing because it is a good conductor of electricity. Being a good electrical conductor is a physical property of matter, as it depends on the physical structure of the material. Gold's atoms are closely packed, and its electrons can move freely, allowing electricity to pass through with ease.
Gold is also used in computing because it is malleable and can be shaped to fit in wires and other small areas. Its use has decreased over time as manufacturers have found suitable replacements for some computer parts. However, gold is still used in circuit boards, specifically motherboards, as they require a reliable conductor of electricity.
The rapid and accurate transmission of digital information through a computer and between its components requires an efficient and reliable conductor. Gold is the best metal for this purpose, despite being more expensive than other metals such as silver and copper. This is because, unlike silver and copper, gold does not oxidize and stays unblemished in a normal environment.
Gold is also used in computing devices such as cell phones and laptops. A single laptop can contain up to $25 worth of gold. While recycling efforts are increasing, only a small percentage of e-waste is currently recycled, resulting in a significant amount of unrecycled gold.
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Frequently asked questions
No, being a conductor of electricity is a physical property. Physical properties can be observed or measured without changing the chemical identity of a substance. For example, a copper wire is still copper even when it is conducting electricity.
Metals are good electrical conductors. This is because they have free-floating electrons that can move around easily. Examples of metals with good electrical conductivity include copper, aluminium, gold, and silver.
Physical properties can be observed without changing the composition of a substance. On the other hand, chemical properties involve a substance undergoing a chemical change or reaction, resulting in a new substance. For example, the melting point of a substance is a physical property, while its flammability is a chemical property.
