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Why can a pencil sharpened at both ends be used as a conductor in laboratories?
Wiki User
∙ 14y ago
Despite the name "Pencil Lead", pencils actually have no real lead in them. They are a graphite/clay that has a slightly shiny slate gray look that resembles lead.
Take your pencil, sharpened on both ends, or at least having access to the lead and the wood on both ends (and not being cracked in the middle).
Set your multimeter to Ohms (it doesn't really matter what level, somewhere in the middle). It should read 0 when the probes are separate, and 0 when they touch.
Now, touch the wood on both ends, and does it conduct?
Touch the lead on on one end and wood on the other end. Does it conduct?
Touch the lead on both ends. Does it conduct?
Wood is mainly long chain carbon-hydrogen chains and carbohydrate chains, etc. Mainly desaturated (single bonds). And, it turns out to be a relatively non conductive.
Graphite, on the other hand, has what is called delocalized bonds from the basic unit which is like benzine with essentially 1 1/2 bonds all the way around it.
See Wikipedia Articles:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Benzene
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Delocalized_electron
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Graphite
The basic unit of graphite is the benzine ring with delocalized electrons.
Graphite is a mesh of benzine rings, without the hydrogen atoms, but delocalized electrons and essentially 1 1/2 bonds throughout.
These delocalized electrons actually make graphite act very much like a metal and makes it an excellent electrical conductor.
See Wikipedia Article on Metallic Bonds:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Metallic_bond
Images are from Wikipedia from pages referenced above, and are part of the Public Domain. Line drawing of delocalized graphite was created by the first editor of this article, and is hereby released into the public domain.
Wiki User
∙ 14y ago
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What are some objects that are both conductors and insulators?
A pencil can be both. It is an insulator if you use the wood side and a conductor if you connected to the metal side.
Is tin a insulator or an conductor?
No. Tin is a conductor of both heat and electricity.
Is anything both a conductor and an insulter?
I do not know of anything that is both a conductor and an insulter so just Google it. If you did Google it go to wikipedia.
How is a pencil and a candle alike?
Both get smaller with use.
Is antimony a good conductor of heat and electricity?
Yes, antimony is a good conductor of both heat and electricity.
Can a pencil sharpened at both ends be used as a conductor?
Yes, but it will have high resistance so it would be better called a resistor than a conductor.
Pencils sharpened at both ends can be used as electrodes Why?
Pencil sharpened at both ends allows electricity to pass through it because pencil lead is actually made of graphite which is a good conductor of electricity, so when you sharpen the pencil at both ends electricity can pass from one end, through the lead to the other end
What are some objects that are both conductors and insulators?
A pencil can be both. It is an insulator if you use the wood side and a conductor if you connected to the metal side.
What is an activity that would show graphite is a good conductor of electricity?
Take a pencil made of wood and sharpen it from both ends such that the tips become clear. Those black parts of pencil are graphite. Take a wire connect it to the bulb, then to a battery and connect the both ends of the pencil to the wire forming a circuit. When current flows from battery, it goes through wire and bulb lightens. Since the pencil is connected in the circuit, current also passes through it. It shows that it is a good conductor of electricity.
What is a paper stomp?
A "paper stomp" is probably a misnomer for "paper stump," which is a tightly rolled paper, sharpened at both ends, and used by artists to smear or blend charcoal, pencil, or chalk in the drawing process. See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stump
What do Sam and Eric warn Ralph about at Castle Guard?
They warn Ralph that Jack plans to hunt him the next day and that Roger has "sharpened a stick at both ends."
Is tin a insulator or an conductor?
No. Tin is a conductor of both heat and electricity.
What is meant by PEN conductor when referring to earthing of supply system?
Conductor combining the functions of both a protective earthing conductor and a neutral conductor
Is copper a poor conductor of heat and electricity?
No. It's an excellent conductor of both.
What can you infer roger and jack intended to do with the stick that sharpened at both ends?
Roger and Jack likely intended to use the sharpened stick as a weapon. Its design as a spear with both ends sharpened suggests they intended to hunt or harm someone or something. This weapon could have been used for hunting animals or as a tool to establish power or control over others.
What is the similarity between pens and pencils?
A joke and a pencil goes straight through a dumb mind. A joke is not understood by a dumb creature, and a pencil can easily pass through an empty brain.--A joke and a pencil are alike in that they only work when they have a point.[Based on the similar question "Why is a bad joke like a dull pencil?" Both are pointless.]
What is the uses of pencil?
The pencil is a writing utensil that can be erased.
