Good conductor of electricity is

  1. Why are Metals Good Conductors of Electricity?
  2. Does Lead Conduct Electricity? Why or Why Not?


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Why are Metals Good Conductors of Electricity?

Let us first find out what is the difference between a good and a bad conductor of electricity. A good conductor of electricity is any material that allows easy passage of electricity through it without much resistance. On the other hand, a bad conductor of electricity is one that prevent free flow of electric current through it. In other words, a good conductor has high conductance and low resistance, whereas a bad conductor has low conductance and high resistance. Properties of Metals We all know, that the smallest unit of all elements is an atom. An atom is a neutral particle with a positively charged nucleus at the center, and negatively charge electrons moving in a number of orbits around the nucleus. The electrical conductivity of an element is determined by its atomic structure. There are several millions of atoms in a piece of metal. Each atom of a metallic element has two or three electrons in its outermost orbit which are also known as valence electrons. The atoms form a metallic bond with each other to give a closely packed stable structure to the metal. During formation of these bonds, the valence electrons present in the outermost orbit are completely detached from their parent atom, and can move freely in the space that lies within the lattice structure of the metal. When there is no electric field, the electrons move around in a scattered manner in different directions. On application of an electric field, the electrons start flowing from one end to the othe...

Does Lead Conduct Electricity? Why or Why Not?

Lead is a p block element from group 14 with atomic number 82 and has 4 valence electrons. It is one of the earliest discovered metals. Pb is a silver-grey colored, soft, malleable, ductile, and heavy metal. It is obtained by roasting (heating in the absence of oxygen) mineral galena (PbS). Properties of Lead as an element Symbol Pb Atomic mass 207.19 g/mol Atomic number 82 Melting point 327.5 °C Boiling point 1744 °C Density 11.29 g/mL Electronic configuration 1s 2 2s 2 2p 6 3s 2 3p 6 3d 10 4s 2 4p 6 4d 10 4f 14 5s 2 5p 6 5d 10 6s 2 6p 2 Metals generally conduct electricity. In this article, we will find out if Lead also conducts electricity or not and the reason for the same. So, does lead conduct electricity? Pure Lead is a good conductor of electricity due to the presence of free electrons. However, Lead can be a bad conductor of electricity due to its reaction with atmospheric oxygen to form a layer of lead oxide which does not allow the electricity to pass through. Conclusion What is a Conductor? The word conductor means something that facilitates movement. The conductor of electricity means a substance that can allow charges to move through it, allowing electricity to flow through. This conduction is possible due to the presence of free electrons. Metals are good conductors because they have free electrons in the valence shell. For instance, copper, water, iron, etc., are good conductors of electricity. What is an Insulator? The word insulator means something that r...