Why are metal electrical conductors?

Answer 1

Any conductor can be used but the relative high conductivity of most metals make them prime candidates.

Answer 2

atoms in a metal form a matrix wherein their outer electrons move freely

Answer 3

Crystalline solids would not be practical for electrical wiring. The only ones that are good conductors are molten salts. Can you imagine replacing the copper wire in your walls with pipes of liquid salt, with the heaters need to keep them in a molten state? and the air conditioners needed to keep the room cool with all those heaters. And all the extra pipes needed to supply the electricity for the heaters and air conditioning.

Answer 4

Metal is used for wires because they are great conductors of electricity. The electricity can pass through them to get to the application easily. This is the same with most solids but metals are especially good.

TheSystem

Answer 5

The main reason why certain metals are used to make wires is because they are "ductile". That just means they can easily be drawn through a series of smaller and smaller holes - called "dies" - to make wires of various diameters.

Another reason why certain metals - such as copper or aluminum - are used to make electrical wires is that they are extremely good conductors of electricity. If there were no metal in the wires the electricity would not be conducted by anything.

Note

To prevent the wires in an electrical cable from touching together - which would make a "short circuit" - or from making contact with other metal surfaces, the wires must be covered in a good insulating material such as a specially prepared plastic or rubber compound.

Answer 6

Metal is used because metals conduct electric current. The best conductor among the metals is silver, followed by copper, then aluminium. Copper is used for electrical wiring in the house and for underground supplies, while the lightness of aluminium makes it the metal of choice for overhead power lines.

Answer 7

Any conductor can be used but the relative high conductivity of most metals make them prime candidates.