All metals (copper included) form crystals that have the valance electrons in a free floating sea. They are not affiliate with any single atom and can move (fairly) freely between associated atoms. Shoving a charge in at one end of a wire therefore allows all the electrons to 'shove-over' and kick one out the other end.
Copper and zinc are good conductors of electricity because they have many free electrons in their atomic structure that are able to move easily under the influence of an electric field. These free electrons create a pathway for the flow of electric current, making copper and zinc ideal materials for conducting electricity.
To keep things simple I will start off with conduction itself and what is actually happening before I get into how various materials affect conduction. When we say electricity is conducted, we are actually referring to the movement of charged particles called electrons along a conducting or semi-conducting material. The force that causes the electrons to move is referred to as an electro-motive force (EMF) and is typically an applied electromagnetic field as in a generator at a power plant or a chemical reaction in a battery.
If you think of conduction in this manner, electrons flowing through a material, it is easier to understand why some materials are better than others at carrying these electrons. The electrons are not simply stored in a container somewhere and poured down a wire, but are a part of the atoms that make up the wire (conductor). There is something special about conducting materials that allows the transfer of electrons to neighboring atoms when an EMF is applied. When conducting materials are in a normal (ground) state they have free spaces in their valence band (see molecular orbital theory or valence energy for more).
When an atom has unfilled orbitals in its valence band, electrons can also occupy the conduction band. Electrons in the conduction band can be easily transferred to the conduction band of neighboring atoms. This is how the negatively charged electrons move through a conductor and "electricity" is conducted. In a material that is an insulator such as rubber, the rubber molecules to not have free spaces in their valence orbitals and the conduction bands cannot be occupied.
Zinc is a natural conductor of electricity although it is not commonly found in stores. I recently did an expiriment for my science fair based on the production of energy using scrap metals, and zinc conducted first 52 watts of electricity, then 50, then 41, then 32, then 10 watts. It caused my volt meter to go crazy, leaving me to believe that zinc holds many electrical cells in its skin.
No, solid zinc is typically not a good conductor of electricity due to its crystalline structure which limits the movement of electrons. However, zinc can conduct electricity when it is in its molten state or as an aqueous solution in the form of zinc ions.
Yes, copper sulfate can conduct electricity when dissolved in water. The presence of free ions in the solution allows for the flow of electric current.
Yes, copper sulfate does conduct electricity when dissolved in water. This is because the resulting solution contains free ions that can carry electric current.
No, zinc is not commonly used as an insulating material. Zinc is a good conductor of electricity and is often used in various alloys, coatings, and applications that require good electrical conductivity. Insulating materials typically do not conduct electricity.
Yes, copper sulfate crystals can conduct electricity when dissolved in water because the ions present in the solution are free to carry the electric current. However, solid copper sulfate crystals do not conduct electricity as well because the ions are not free to move.
Zinc, gold, silver and many others. You see all metals can conduct electricity.
Brass is conductive. It's an alloy of copper and zinc, both of which conduct electricity ( pure copper is better, though).
zinc/steel zinc/copper copper/steel
copper because it has a free valence electron where as zinc has its shells completely full making it harder to delocalize the electron so it can conduct.
Materials that conduct electricity well are typically metals such as copper, silver, and gold. Graphite, a form of carbon, also conducts electricity. These materials have free electrons that can move easily through the material in response to an electric field.
Potatoes can conduct electricity because they contain water and electrolytes that allow charged particles to flow through them. The presence of ions in the potato helps to facilitate the movement of electric current. When metal electrodes are inserted into a potato and a voltage is applied, the ions in the potato allow for the flow of electricity between the electrodes.
Yes, copper sulfate can conduct electricity when dissolved in water. The presence of free ions in the solution allows for the flow of electric current.
quarters are made of steel, and pennies are made of copper. Copper doesn't conduct electricity
Zinc is considered a poor conductor of electricity compared to metals like copper and aluminum. Its electrical conductivity is lower because it has fewer free electrons available to carry current. However, zinc is still used in various electronic applications due to its other favorable properties, such as corrosion resistance.
A penny is composed of about 98% zinc and 2% copper, both of which are metals and therefore conduct both electricity and heat very well.
Zinc and other metals
It does, but not very well.