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Copper is cheap as compared to silver which is much a better conductor. The number of free electrons(those which have escaped from the shackles of nucleus but roam free in the lattice) is very high in these. Free electrons are the cause for conduction. More free electrons means more conduction
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∙ 11y ago
Wiki User
∙ 16y agoWiki User
∙ 14y agoBecause of where Copper is in the Periodic Table ( middle of the transition elements ) it has a lot of loosely bound electrons ( due to shell effects and so on ) hence these electrons are very easy to move - the definition of electric current.
Wiki User
∙ 12y agoElectrical conduction is caused by electrons breaking free of their atoms and moving around. Atoms of some elements let go of their outer electrons pretty easily, which makes these elements good conductors. In other elements, the atoms hold on to their electrons, so these elements don't conduct electricity as well. Copper and silicon are used here as examples. The same general ideas apply to other elements.
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For nichrome, check the explanation for silicon there, it would be the same basically.
In these sketches, positive charge is shown in red, negative in black, and neutral in green.
The atomic number of copper is 29, which means it has 29 protons in the middle and 29 electrons moving around the outside. (The 29 negative charges of the electrons and the 29 positive charges of the protons balance out, so the atom is neutral when all of its electrons are in place.)
Copper has two electrons in the innermost shell, eight in the next shell, eighteen in the third shell, and one in the fourth shell. This means that the first three shells each have as many electrons as they can hold, and the fourth shell has one lonely electron. (The fourth shell can hold up to 32 electrons.) Because this one lonely electron is all by itself in the outer shell, it can easily separate from the rest of the atom and go roaming around, which makes copper a very good conductor.
The best conductors are silver, copper, gold and aluminum respectively. Cost, weight and ease of handling dictate using copper or aluminum as conductors in most industries.
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How do vegetables conduct electricity?
its cuz they r so awesomely electric if u eat an aple u can get shoked and die---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------The vegetable to conduct electricity it must contain free ions like in lemon, which contains free ions as it is acidic.
Does electricity travel through copper?
Cork should be a poor conductor. Cork is a lite wood like, low density material. Often used to insulate heat, which is a clue. Things that are not good conductors of heat are normally poor conductors of electricity.
Which is an example of a conductor?
Pretty much any metal will conduct electricity. Some common examples are copper, gold, iron, silver, aluminum, lead, etc.This also includes humans.See the Related Questions for the best ones.
How diode limiters and clampers differ in terms of function?
Diodes are electronic components that act like switches. They conduct electricity in one direction and block electricity in the opposite direction. Because of the switch-like behavior, diodes are often used in power supplies for converting AC electricity to DC. Diodes can also modify the waveform of AC electricity, through the processes of limiting and clamping. R3gaRdX: Hasnain Ali hasnain_ali_2012@yahoo.com
Who invented semiconductor why?
Who? Semiconductors were first discovered in 1833 by Michael Faraday while working at the Royal Institute in London. The first material which he realised had the properties of semi-conductance was silver sulphide, the black tarnish that appears on Silver if you don't polish it for a while. Why are they useful? Normally they do not conduct electricity, but when a voltage is applied to them, they change so they do conduct electricity. A practical example is a transistor, which is like a switch with no moving parts. When no voltage is applied to the semiconductor, the switch is effectively open (the electricity cannot flow). When a voltage is applied, the switch is effectively closed (the semiconductor conducts, so the electricity can flow through it).
What is a example conductor?
Most elements found on the left side of the staircase in the Periodic Table of the Elements, and those elements are called metals. Good examples of best conductors are copper (Cu), Iron, and Aluminum, while elements like Mercury cannot conduct electricity. The reason they can conduct electricity is because of metallic bonding.
Can a sold conduct an electric current?
Solids can definitely conduct electricity -- like copper wires. It is a general property of metals.
Which Metal Doesn't Conduct Electricity?
think allof them do, just some of them are better conductors (like silver and copper), and some are worse.
Things that conduct electricity?
"things that conduct electricity" is a very common question, but however is different than "what things conduct electricity" things like water with salt dissolved into it, wood, metal, and SOME plastics conduct electricity, but copper and silver are the best even though people think gold is.
Why do substances like copper silver iron and gold conduct electricity?
due to the presence of unpaired electrons
What is the difference of a conductor from an insulator?
A Conductor like copper, conducts current or electricity while an Insulator works just the opposite it doesn't conduct current or electricity.
Procedure to distinguish conductor from non-condutors of electricity?
Metals like Copper, Iron Steel conduct electricity. Wood, rubber mats, most plastics either conduct electricity very badly or not at all. Metals are conductors, Wood is a non - conductor
Does wood conduct electricity?
Wood is normally an insulator but will conduct electricity when struck by lightning. The resins and water in the wood turn to steam and explode the tree.
Does copper ll chloride conduct electricity in the aqueous state?
Copper II chloride (CuCl2) is an ionic compound because copper is a metal and chloride is a non-metal. Like all ionic compounds in aqueous solutions (i.e., dissolved in water), it conducts electricity.
What elements are not malleable and do not conduct electricity?
Insulators. Their valence electrons are tightly bound because the valence shell is close to full or full. Since each shell can only only hold a certain amount of electrons, the number of electrons depends on which shell is the outer or valence shell.
How does an electric eel conduct electricity?
the electric eel conduct electricity like how lights need electricity to work and like how the human body needs electricity to work.
Why doesn't water conduct as well as copper?
Water becomes a conductor of electricity that can replace copper in wires when the water is heated. Hydroelectric power plants heat water to run giant turbines that conduct electricity and generate heat. The places being serviced by the hydroelectric power plant still need copper wires, though to have electricity.
