Is vegetable oil a bad conductor of electricity?

Answer 1

Short answer: Yes but it may take a very high voltage before a sizable current is conducted. Even air can conduct electricity but this takes millions of volts. When air conducts electricity in a storm it is called lightning.

Long answer: Electricity conduction requires electrons that move from atom to atom. At low voltages this usually does not happen very quickly except in conductors like metals or conductive plastics and glasses. Even insulators conduct a few electrons at low voltages but there are so few that it is difficult to measure at low voltages.

However if the voltage is high enough the electric field becomes strong enough to rip the electrons away from almost any material. Atoms that have some of their electrons removed usually form a hot vapor called a plasma. This usually causes a solid or liquid insulator to break down and it catch on fire. Also, vegetable oil can contain some water or salts or other impurities which makes it much more conductive.

Answer 2

No, it wil not pass a current. However, I do believe that if it is exposed to oxygen it will eventually break down and the current will be able to pass. If you're attempting to make a fishbowl computer, I would recommend just footing the bill for mineral oil.

Answer 3

No it won't. Organic materials do not conduct electricity

Answer 4

Yes it is it conducts .00 volts And yes i tested this myself.

Answer 5

Not in normal circumstances. Most oils are insulators. At breakdown voltage (even air conducts at high enough driving voltage) vegetable oils could conduct.

Answer 6

no

Answer 7

No