answersLogoWhite

0


Best Answer

Metals have high electrical conductivity because of their "sea of non-localized electrons". In metallic bonding, the valence electrons of a particular metallic atom do not have to stay with that atom, they are not fixed in one place, they flit around in the metal taking the place of other electrons that have strayed.

In metals, the valence shell is exactly half full. When large numbers of atoms of the same metallic type are neighbors, all of the electrons in the valence shells are at nearly the exact same energy state as "free" electrons as well as of those around neighboring atoms. Little force is required to move large quantities of electrons in the same direction, and little heat is generated.

In covalent bonding some valence shell is not exactly half full. Atoms tend to bond with complementary molecules whose valence shells will "complete" them. Now the electrons in adjacent atoms have significantly different quantum energy states. The electrons are constrained within a molecular bond and stay put until enough energy arrives to free the electron from that quantum state; the molecule is ionized and changes shape. When the quantum state changes (either freeing or reacquiring an electron), heat is released in the form of "ringing" molecules.

User Avatar

Wiki User

13y ago
This answer is:
User Avatar
More answers
User Avatar

Wiki User

14y ago

An abundance of isotopes creates excess protons that exert pressure on the electrons.

This answer is:
User Avatar

User Avatar

Wiki User

11y ago

the molecule arrangement is closely packed

This answer is:
User Avatar

User Avatar

Wiki User

10y ago

That _is_ the property.

This answer is:
User Avatar

User Avatar

Wiki User

10y ago

cause they feel like it

This answer is:
User Avatar

Add your answer:

Earn +20 pts
Q: Why metals are known to exhibit a high electrical conductivity?
Write your answer...
Submit
Still have questions?
magnify glass
imp
Continue Learning about Natural Sciences

How do you make semi-metals?

Semi-metals, also known as metalloids, are typically made through a process called doping. This involves adding small amounts of impurities to a pure semiconductor material, such as silicon or germanium. The impurities alter the electronic properties of the material, making it exhibit characteristics of both metals and non-metals.


Metals are known to?

metals are known to be a good conductor of heat and electricity.


What is element 47 on the periodic table?

Atomic number 47 on the periodic table, commonly known as silver using the symbol Ag, atomic weight 107.8682.Silver has been around since prehistoric times and has a melting point of 961.93 C, pure silver has a brilliant metallic luster and has the highest electrical and thermal conductivity of all metals. Silver is more commonly used to make jewellery containing 92.5% silver mixed with copper or other metals.


Are metals most known elements?

yes metals are more common than non-metals


What are the properties of silver?

Silver has many special properties that make it a very useful and precious metal. It has an attractive shiny appearance, although it tarnishes easily. The tarnish is silver sulphide and it forms as the silver reacts with sulphur compounds in the atmosphere. Of all the metals, silver is the best conductor of heat and electricity known - in fact it has the highest electrical and thermal conductivity known for any material. It is strong, malleable and ductile, and can endure extreme temperature ranges. Silver also reflects light very well.

Related questions

What is known for its electrical conductivity?

metal


How much conductivity has xenon?

The electrical conductivity is not known. The thermal conductivity is 0.00565 W/(m·K)


Is xenon a conductor of electrictiy?

According to the Royal Society of Chemists, its electrical conductivity is not known.


How well can xenon conduct electricity?

The electrical conductivity is not known.


Does copper have a electrical conductivity?

Yes, indeed: one of the highest electrical conductivities of any known substance.


Why is copper wire the best known conductor?

The best electrical conductor known is silver, not copper. Electrical resistivity of silver: 1,59.10-8 ohm.m Electrical resistivity of copper: 1,68.10-8 ohm.m A good electrical conductor has a very low electrical resistivity and a high electrical conductivity (the same principles for the thermal conductivity).


What are metal atoms held together by?

The electrons in the valence band of metals escape and form an "electron gas" filling the bulk of the metal. The positively charged nuclei of the metal are attracted to this diffuse negatively charged cloud of delocalized conduction band electrons. This gives metals their well known properties of ductility, malleability, electrical conductivity, thermal conductivity, etc.


Which metal has the highest conductivity?

At room temperature, silver has the highest electrical and thermal conductivity of all the (known) metals. Note that diamond, an allotrope of carbon, is a poor electrical conductor but is several times better as a thermal conductor than silver. Carbon is a nonmetal, of course, but it was worth mentioning as both a comparison and a curiousity.


Why conductivity of diamond is highest being a nonmetal?

It would help if you specify whether you are talking about thermal conductivity, or electrical conductivity. Diamond certainly doesn't has the highest electrical conductivity. Its thermal conductivity is one of the highest known, and - if a synthetic diamond is made from pure (99.9%) C-12, it is indeed the highest. The Wikipedia article attributes this to a strong covalent bonding.


What is conduct electricity means?

The ability of a material to conduct an electric current is termed as ELECTRICAL CONDUCTIVITY. Generally, ELECTRICAL CONDUCTIVITY is the ratio between ELECTRICAL FIELD STRENGTH and the CURRENT DENSITY of the conductor. The unit is Sm-1. It is also known as SPECIFIC CONDUCTANCE. ELECTRICAL CONDUCIVITY = (ELECTRICAL RESISTIVITY)-1 The unit of ELECTRICAL CONDUCIVITY is ohm- meter.


What is doping in chemistry?

Addition of small amount of foreign impurity in the host crystal is known as doping. It increases the electrical conductivity.


Is Xenon a good conductor?

Its electrical conductivity is not known. The thermal conductivity is only 5.65×10^−3 W/(m·K). By way of comparison, silver, the best conductor has a conductivity of 430 W/(m·K) - more than 75 thousand times as great.