2006-08-02 07:48:38 · 6 answers · asked by sianz 2 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Chemistry
Electrical conductivity depends on the internal structure of the material. As you might know, electricity is flow of electrons. Materials that have more free electrons are better conductors. For example, metals are good conductors while insulators such as glass or vaccum have very low conductivity.
Also, electrical conductivity is more or less strongly dependent on temperature. In metals, electrical conductivity decreases with increasing temperature, whereas in semiconductors, electrical conductivity increases with increasing temperature. Over a limited temperature range, the electrical conductivity can be approximated as being directly proportional to temperature.
2006-08-02 08:03:51 · answer #1 · answered by organicchem 5 · 2⤊ 0⤋
the number of free electrons a metal has determines the capacity of heat and electricity conduction of metal
2006-08-03 02:45:23 · answer #2 · answered by mitosia 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
metals conduct electricity because their ions are surrounded by a 'sea' of mobile electrons.
2006-08-02 12:18:48 · answer #3 · answered by Magix 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
This is not an easy question to answer unless you have some college physics behind you. You might want to take a look at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electrical_conduction
That might be of some help.
2006-08-02 08:02:52 · answer #4 · answered by Alan Turing 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The presence and ability to use it's electrons to contain the charge and pass it to another electron.
2006-08-02 07:56:27 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
The ease with which electrons can be ejected from their orbits.
2006-08-02 08:00:04 · answer #6 · answered by Will 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋