Why is silver the best conductor of electricity?

Question

A science homework question: I know how electricity is conducted, but why are metals like silver and copper so good at it?

Answer 1

This is one of those questions that does not have a satisfactory, simple answer.

The high heat and electrical conductivity of metals, notably Cu, Ag, and Au, result from the fact that the electrons in metals, and the ones above especially, are very mobile.

Put the issues of impurities and crystal imperfections aside, although both those factors can be very important, and reduce both types of conductivity.

Some of the electrons in metals are not bound to a single atom, but are free to move if a voltage (or temperature) difference is imposed across the metal. This results in a movement of electrons, which carry the current or the heat. So it turns out that the electrical and thermal conductivity are related to one another. If one uses the quantum mechanical theory of the movement of the electrons in the metal one can arrive at a rather simple
relation between the electrical conductivity, s, the thermal conductivity, k, and the absolute temperature T. This relation is called the Wiedemann-Franz Law, which says that: k/(s*T) = L, where the constant L has a calculated value of L=2.45x10^-8 (watt*ohm/K^2) -- strange units, but that's how it falls out.
The constant,L, has been given the name the Lorenz Number.

The real "WHY?" in your question is buried in the quantum mechanics, whichis framed in mathematical terms.

If you want to go into more detail, try starting with the website:
http://www1.slb.com/seed/ask/q_and_a/resist.htm

Answer 2

The electrons in metal atoms are only weakly bound in the outer shell, this allows metal atoms to share their electrons.

This means that when you apply a potential difference to a metal then electron mobility is much easier and the electrons can flow from the high potential to the low potential and thus create an electrical flow.

with non-conductors the electrons are more strongly bound in the outer shell so they act as insulators because when you apply a potential difference the electrons cannot move as there is no connecton.

Though in the case of semi-conductors if you supply energy to the material then this gives the outer shell electrons the energy to escape from their atom and a material which was an insulator can also become conducting.

or something like that.

Answer 3

Metals are good conductors of electricity in general because they do not hold on to their electrons tightly. Electrons on a sheet of metal can easily hop around from atom to atom and since electricity is simply a flow of electrons, this means metals are good conductors. Copper and Silver, because of their positions on the periodic table and resulting electron configurations, are one electron away from have only filled shells in its electron configuration. Copper is [Ar] 4s1 3d10 and silver is [Kr] 5s1 4d10 and by giving away the single s-shell electron, whether in a bond or to a flow of electricity, copper and silver will have a complete d shell as its outermost shell, an extremely stable state. Since they are so willing to give up this electron, copper and silver are the most active of metals and this directly translates to the best conductors of electricity.

Answer 4

Basically, the electricity that we use today is done by generating a flow of electrons through a metal wire that is protected by a insulating covering such as plastic. The metals are good at this because in physics, everything has a trait called "resistance". Elements with higher resistance are less likely to conduct electricity. Metals happen to have low resistance because of their electronic (atomic) configuration.

Answer 5

The question does not specify at what temperature... although I guess most people don't come into contact with substances at close to absolute zero!

Strange things happen when making substances very very cold, and things that conduct very well at room temperature don't conduct well in comparison to others, the best conductors being non-metals i believe. At close to absolute zero they exhibit super conductivity, but this is a whole different kettle of fish.

Answer 6

Conductivity is all about electron mobility. In metals, and metallic conductors, electrons are not bound to one atom. Rather they are allowed to freely move about what is called the conduction band. Conduction bands in metals overlap with their valence bands, so there is no gap (as in insulators and semicondutors), so they can readily jump to the conduction band and travel the conductive highway! Of course, conduction is really not all that simple, also depends on temperature, lattice structure, impurities, etc.

Answer 7

Electrical conductivity is a function of electrons that do not fill valence states- almost like marbles on a smooth kitchen counter, skittering around. It is an intrinsic property of silver that it has fewer lattice defects and, therefore, less resistance. I think. See the second link for a better discussion.

Answer 8

It's always got one free electron to give off...so it makes it a good conductor, it is not the best but its pretty good.

we see copper all the time in wires its because its cheap to make. But in some expansive machines the wires are often made in silver or gold.

Ag+ ~~~~~~~~~~> e-

Answer 9

Why is silver the best conductor of electricity?

Answer 10

Probably because the electrons on the outer orbits of their atoms are very exchangeable ... that is, they will jump easily from one atom to the next without very much energy being needed.