What is the metal, electrical conductor with the lowest resistance?

Answer 1

Silver is the *elemental* metal with the lowest resistance, I'm pretty sure, but of course there may be allows I'm unaware of.

Also, if you consider a superconductor below the critical temperature a "metal" (which is also a "conductor") then it would be the lowest, but I think those are all "ceramics."

Gold is used instead of silver sometimes because of its corrosion properties, not better conductivity.

Answer 2

And the winner is......sylver !

The only advantage of gold is: it doesn't rust...so the mechanical contact is always the same.

Material Resistivity (ohm meters) (the lower, the better)
Silver = 1.59 × 10-8
Copper = 1.7 × 10-8
Gold = 2.44 × 10-8
Aluminium = 2.82 × 10-8
Tungsten = 5.6 × 10-8
Iron = 1.0 × 10-7
Platinum = 1.1 × 10-7
Lead = 2.2 × 10-7
Manganin = 4.82 × 10-7
Mercury 9.8 × 10-7
Nichrome 1.50 × 10-6

Answer 3

Pure gold. Silver is the next best to use for low-resistance needs,such as integrated circuits (computer chips), which is one of the reasons computers aren't dirt cheap. But don't go taking your computer apart! The gold wire is so thin that it's impossible to see with out a microscope. Gold is also very ductile
(the ability to form into wires); it takes just an ounce of gold to make a single wire a mile long!

Copper isn't always used for household wiring. You may sometimes find aluminum wire in its place simply because it's cheaper.

More information on:
Gold
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gold
Silver
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Silver
Copper
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Copper
Aluminum
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aluminum

Answer 4

Silver I believe.

Answer 5

I think pure silver is best, with gold second.

Gold is "better" because it doesn't corrode in air.

Answer 6

gold. but it's rare also silver. most common and pretty good is copper

Answer 7

silver

Answer 8

The answer is copper. That is why most most electrical wire is copper.