0
What is the molecular make-up of a material that would be a good thermal conductor?
Wiki User
∙ 11y ago
Thermal conduction is caused by two different things: Phonon conduction and Electron conduction.
Electrons are thermal conductors because electrons have mass and velocity, ie. they have momentum. Thermal energy can be carried by these electrons. What makes a good thermal conductor through the energy carrying of electrons is good electrical conductor. This is because if the electrons are bouncing all around the inside of the conductor, they are transfering their energy to the molecules/atoms of the conductor and not to the other "side".
More technically, the crystal lattice of the conductor must be free of as many defects as possible, and the lattice atoms must have electrons in the the conduction band.
The other thermal conductor is phonons. Phonons are basically a name we give to the movement of the lattice itself. Think of phonons as waves in a pool. The better the phonon conductivity, the better the thermal conduction. Think of phonons as a rope that is held at noth ends and you whip a wave across it. If there is a lot of tention, the wave will quickly travel to the other side. If it is loose, the wave will travel slowly and maybe not even make it to the other side.
The technical equivalent is high bond strengths in the lattice. High bond strength between the atoms means that the phonons will travel faster because the movement of one atom will greatly affect the movement of the neighboring atoms. This is why diamond is such a good thermal conductor, it has very very strong bonds.
Wiki User
∙ 11y ago
Add your answer:
Earn +20 pts
What happens to metals as they conduct electricity?
The electrons in a conductor will support the movement of electric current. A conductor is defined as a material with a number of electrons in its makeup that are actually in what is called the conduction band. The conduction band is an energy level where electrons must be to permit conduction in a material. If the minimum energy in the conduction band in a material is such that a lot of electrons in that material are already at or above that level, then these electrons will be available to support current flow. Remember that electron current flow is moving electrons, and it is not about sending an electron into a conductor, like a wire, at one end and getting that same electron out at the other. It is about sending a bunch of them in at one end, and all the electrons already in the conductor move over and a bunch come out the other end. The electrons already in the conduction band within the conductor support current flow in this way.
When a formula of a compound is said to be molecule?
This questions doesn't make much sense, but a molecule is considered to be 2 or more atoms covalently bonded together to form a neutral compound. A molecular formula is a way of writing the chemical makeup of a molecule. Thus, methanol is a molecule and it's molecular formula is COH4
Does analysing a specific gas by gas chromatography destroy the gas as in turn it into something else or some other gas?
generally no, most common detector used is thermal conductivity which does not change the chemical makeup.
Is cell division RNA or DNA?
Cell division is related to DNA. This is the genetic makeup of the cell and functions like a map of how the cells function on a molecular level. RNA takes the directions from DNA and carries out the synthesis of products for the cell.
What periodic elements are in decaf coffee?
Coffee is an extremely complex material, scientists still to this day do not know the complete makeup of it. They do belief that there is more than 2000 chemical constituents.
What is the molecular makeup of hemoglobin in the red blood cell?
den xepo
Is the ability of a material to change its chemical makeup?
What is it
Properties such as color and texture that can be observed without changing the makeup of the material?
physical
Do taxonomists use the chemical makeup to classify?
Morphological, Embryological, Cytological and Molecular data.
Does breaking a rock into pieces cause it to have a different chemical makeup?
no the material stay the same.
What happens to metals as they conduct electricity?
The electrons in a conductor will support the movement of electric current. A conductor is defined as a material with a number of electrons in its makeup that are actually in what is called the conduction band. The conduction band is an energy level where electrons must be to permit conduction in a material. If the minimum energy in the conduction band in a material is such that a lot of electrons in that material are already at or above that level, then these electrons will be available to support current flow. Remember that electron current flow is moving electrons, and it is not about sending an electron into a conductor, like a wire, at one end and getting that same electron out at the other. It is about sending a bunch of them in at one end, and all the electrons already in the conductor move over and a bunch come out the other end. The electrons already in the conduction band within the conductor support current flow in this way.
What is the bony material beneath the enamel of the teeth?
The bony material beneath the enamel of the teeth is called dentin. It is similar in makeup to bone, but is more dense.
What is an ability of a material to change its chemical makeup?
Chemical property
A piece of solid gold that changes from a solid to a liquid is a physical or chemical change?
physical: it's a change of state, it does not change the chemical makeup: molecular, atomic
What is the chemical makeup or composition for composite resin material?
I need to the chemicals that make up composite resin fillings
How many cups makeup 25 pounds?
"Cups" is a measure of volume; "pounds" is a measure of weight. You would need to specify the material, or at least the density of the material, for us to calculate this.
What is the chemical makeup of a glass marble?
Th material can be very differernt: glass, porcelain, agate, steel, marble, etc.
