2006-08-23 05:55:20 · 10 answers · asked by rumki p 1 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Physics
because they can easily loose electron from their outer most shell due to their electronic config(see periodic table).
thus, metals require very low amt. of energy to loose electrons
also, electron is a very light charged particle. it can carry current easily.
2006-08-23 06:03:37 · answer #1 · answered by evil_vision 2 · 2⤊ 0⤋
For electric current to flow, there needs to be charged particles that are not bound tightly but can move freely ( for example, salt water contains charged ions which are relatively free and makes salt water more conducting than water ).
Metals have lots of "loose" electrons which can easily move around if a voltage is applied ( and in fact also if heat is applied which is why metals are good conductors of heat as well !!).
In contract, a non conductor -- wood for example - has most of the constituent electrons tightly bound in the atomic and molecular bonds ( which is why wood does not conduct heat either !) This is the general area of study of electronic structure of elements and compounds known as band theory ....
Hope this helps.
2006-08-23 06:41:45 · answer #2 · answered by curiosity_unbounded 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
^^Anthony B is right
"Metals have free electrons in their outer shell."
2014-04-27 14:37:32 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Metals are, by definition, made of electro-positive atoms that form so-called metal grids. In a metal grid, the surpplus electrons move more or less freely around between the atoms. This means that there is charge that can move.
Compare to a salt chrystal, which consists of a mixture of electropositive atoms (the metal, such as NA) and electronegative ones (such as Cl). Here, the surplus electron from the metal is taken up by the electronegative atom, so there are no freely moving electrons.
2006-08-23 06:02:13 · answer #4 · answered by helene_thygesen 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
when the metal forms a crystal its outer orbiting electrons are only loosely associated with its parent nucleus. So the electrons are almost free floating, this forms almost a gas of electrons. When a voltage is applied accross the material it allows for the electrons to drift in the direction of the voltage. Thus a current flows with in the material.
2006-08-23 08:08:23 · answer #5 · answered by farrell_stu 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Hi.... In the periodic table metals of the d-block element the elements with 3d-series are the metals with good conductance of electricity .These are also called as transtion metals because they are the metals which contain partially filled d-subshells either in their atoms or in their common oxidation state.
2006-08-23 08:06:02 · answer #6 · answered by s_h_007 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
sure. they're stable conductors of warmth, via fact their debris are arranged very close at the same time, so warmth is transferred very rapidly by using the compound (Metals are often stable at room temp). they're stable conductors of electricity of their liquid and robust state via delocalized electrons.
2016-11-05 11:16:39 · answer #7 · answered by ai 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
For those that need the answers to the problems, it is - "Metals have free electrons in their outer shell."
2014-02-17 10:24:24 · answer #8 · answered by Anthony B 1 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Electricity is a collisional flow of free electrons in a conductor.
Metal are very rich in free electrons.
2006-08-23 07:09:10 · answer #9 · answered by goring 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Their bands are only partially filled. Just type in band theory for a search. We spent a whole week on this subject in modern physics and it's kind of hard to explain in one of these settings. You need diagrams and such.
2006-08-23 06:03:15 · answer #10 · answered by mr.quark 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋