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Simple Answer:
The fundamental difference between a conductor and an insulator is that some electrons of the atoms of a conductor are not stuck to specific atoms but are free to move throughout the material. For insulators, the electrons are tightly bound to the specific atoms or in the chemical bonds between atoms. A relatively small force created by the electric field due to an applied voltage produces a tremendous movement of the nearly free electrons in a metal and almost no response at all from tightly bound electrons in an insulator.

Longer Answer:
For a material to carry electricity, it must contain charge carriers that move.
In metals, the outermost electrons of the atoms are not localized on the atoms, but extend far out into the material and are often termed delocalized. This is a way of saying that electrons in metals are essentially free to move throughout the material. As a consequence, little or no energy is required to transport electrons through a metal. Metals are thus good conductors of electricity.

Materials that are insulators have electrons that are localized on specific atoms or localized in particular chemical bonds that join atoms. To move an electron from one atom to the next requires some energy to initially dislodge it. On the atomic scale, the electric field to dislodge an electron from one atom and move it to a nearby atom is typically very large for materials that are not metals. As a result, most materials are insulators.

Finally, it is worth pointing out that ionic liquids, like salt water, conduct electricity not as moving electrons but as a consequence of the movement of charged atoms, e.g. Na+ and Cl-. Conversely, a solution of sugar does not ionize and the molecules are not charged, so conductivity is nearly zero.

Caveat: For the expert, the ultimate quantitative answer to this question requires discussing quantum theory of electrons in solids and band structure and impurities and defects and lattice vibrations.

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Why aren't insulators good conductors of electricity?

because insulators don't conduct any electricity but conductors do conduct electricity


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What do we Materials that do not conduct electricity?

Materials that do not conduct electricity are called insulators. Examples include rubber, plastic, glass, and ceramic. Insulators have high resistance to the flow of electricity due to the lack of free-flowing electrons.


Are pencils conductors or insulators?

Pencils are insulators because they are made of wood which does not conduct electricity well. The graphite in the pencil lead is an exception, as it can conduct electricity to a limited extent.


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Why conductors conduct heat and electricity while insulators are known as poor conductors?

Conductors conduct heat and electricity well because they have delocalised electrons in their structure. Insulators, on the other hand, do not have delocalised electrons and therefore do not conduct heat and electricity as a conductor, although they do conduct to some extent.


What do you call poor conductors?

Poor conductors of electricity are often referred to as insulators. Insulators have high resistance to the flow of electricity due to their molecular structure, which makes them unable to conduct electricity efficiently. Examples of insulators include rubber, plastic, and glass.


Are leather wood and water a examples of insulators?

Yes, leather and wood are examples of insulators because they do not conduct electricity well. Water is a poor conductor of electricity, but it is not considered a good insulator due to its ability to conduct some electricity.


Are insulators non magnetic?

Yes, insulators are materials that do not conduct electricity well, but they can still be magnetic. The ability of a material to conduct electricity (insulation or conductivity) is separate from its magnetic properties.


What is the part of speech for insulators?

The word "insulators" functions as a noun. It refers to materials or substances that do not conduct electricity or heat effectively.


Is a bird a insulator?

No, birds are not insulators. Insulators are materials that do not conduct electricity and are used to prevent the flow of electricity. Birds are living organisms and do not serve the same purpose as insulators in electrical applications.