is it because they dont have freely moving mobile particles?
2007-01-01 12:39:05 · 7 answers · asked by Anonymous in Science & Mathematics ➔ Chemistry
All substances will conduct electricity if the voltage is high enough. However, the degree to which they will conduct electricity is determined by their solid-state molecular orbital energy.
Solids that conduct electricity easily have filled electronic orbitals that are very close in energy to the lowest unfilled orbitals, and it takes very little energy to make an electron "jump" from one to the other. Once in the lowest unfilled orbital (LUMO) the electrons can move freely about the solid and generate an electric current, that is entirely on the surface of the material.
Solids that are "insulators" have filled electronic orbitals that are much lower in energy than the next unfilled molecular orbiral bands, and it takes a lot more energy (ie, voltage) to make them jump to thet unfilled band (conduction band). Thus, they are insulators, but if high enough energy (voltage) is supplied to send the electrons jumping the gap, they will conduct electricity as well. This is generally referred to as dielectric breakdown.
2007-01-01 12:48:38 · answer #1 · answered by John 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
The conductivity or nonconductivity of a substance has mostly to do with the number of valence electrons in the outer electron shell. An inert substance will have 8 valence electrons in it's outer shell (the Noble gasses). If there are fewer than 4, it will tend to give up electrons, and is called a conductor. If there are more than 4, it tends to absorb electrons, and called an insulator.
For quick reference, look at the roman numerals at the top of the column of periodic table of elements to find out how many valence electrons are in the outer shell.
2007-01-01 13:26:54 · answer #2 · answered by helblindison 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Metals are conductors of electricity. Metals have a "metallic bond."
This bond is a type of bond not often talked about in chemistry class, but it deals with any metal that doesn't really have a chemical reaction with the metals it's around.
So here we have it: metal atoms. The nuclei of the atoms are in an orderly (or semi-orderly) fashion, and what gives metals many of their properties is because the electrons don't seem orderly at all. They just fly around, between, over and under the nuclei, but not just their own respective nucleus. The electrons roam about over the metal. For something to conduct electricity, the electrons have to move from one end of the piece of metal to the other end.
In conclusion, you were partially correct. nonmetals have different types of bonds, so the electrons aren't just free to roam and go about the mass of the substance.
2007-01-01 12:45:54 · answer #3 · answered by polevaulter1000 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
There seems to be a bit of confusion on this. John is correct, as he states that all materials will conduct electricity if the voltage is high enough, and that it has to do with electrons in bands (known as valance bands). It is known as 'band theory' and you can check out the links below.
http://www.electricalknowledge.com/basicelectricity2.asp
http://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/hbase/solids/band.html
2007-01-01 19:36:12 · answer #4 · answered by beenthere 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Their electrons aren't easily displaced
2007-01-01 12:57:18 · answer #5 · answered by denbobway 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
yes, mobile CHARGED particles
2007-01-01 12:42:37 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
It's all a matter of voltage, with enough voltage they all become conductors.
2007-01-01 13:34:14 · answer #7 · answered by ZeedoT 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋