Why non metals cannot conduct electricity?

Answer 1

Because they are not dense enough and do not have enough free electrons to pass electricity efficiently. Although electricity can pass through non-metals if enough energy is present, for example lightning travels through many miles of air before it hits the ground.

Answer 2

Non-metals cannot conduct electricity because they do not have free electrons that can move freely in the material to carry an electric charge. Unlike metals, non-metals have tightly bound electrons in their atomic structure, which do not allow for the flow of electric current.

Answer 3

The answer is that some non-metals can conduct electricity.Carbon for example can conduct electricity. The real question is what is the difference between conductors and insulators. In order for electric to flow the electrons in the other ring of the atom must be able to easily remove themselves from this ring and allow electricity to flow. Most metals are in this situation as well as other atoms. Insulators don't easily give up these electrons and are insulators. Plastic, rubber and wood are some examples.

Answer 4

Nonmetals are poor conductors based on there elements and reactions. For example Noble gases on the Periodic Table are nonmetals they inert gases based on there reactions. They cannot transfer heat and electric currents well.

Answer 5

Metals have de-localized electrons - electron clouds that do not "belong" to any one atom. When you try to feed electrons in one end of a metal rod, if the rod has a place on the other end where electrons can go then it is more happy to let electrons pour in one side of the rod and out the other. The more loosely the cloud is held, the less the resistance and the better the conductor.

In contrast, no-conductors have electrons in fixed orbitals. In order to shove electrons from one side of the rod to the other you need them to shove fixed electrons out of their places - a task that requires a large amount of energy, and therefore a large resistance.

However, in 2004, a breakthrough was made...(follow the link)

Answer 6

They cannot because they have no Free mobile electron. We all know that in solid electrons are carrier of electricity while ions are carrier in liquids.but note that some non-metal can conduct electricity like graphite an allotrope of carbon.

Firstly, there are non metals that can conduct electricity (ionic compounds), except they have to be dissolved to do that. One example is the salt used for cooking (NaCl in chemical formula). When dissolved, the ions are able to move freely and conduct electricity. Otherwise, like other non-metals, the particles are held in the structure and able to move freely, resulting in non-metals being unable to conduct electricity. Although metals are also held in a structure, they have free moving ions that can conduct electricity throughout the metal, allowing it to conduct electricity.

Answer 7

Non metals simply just cannot conduct heat very well. This is because they are not naturally and anatomically designed to be able to do so.

Answer 8

Due to unavailability of free electrons, non-metals have low electrical conductivity and a high resistivity.

Answer 9

In the case of non-metals their energy gap is >5ev. So a large amount of energy is needed for conduction.

Answer 10

this is because non metal have no free mobile electron that carry charges round it