Which solids and liquids conduct electricity?
Quick Answer
Solids and liquids that conduct electricity include metals and water. These materials are called conductors because they allow electrical current to flow through them.
Continue Reading
Full Answer
Materials can be defined by their electrical conductivity. Materials which do not conduct any electrical current at all are called insulators. There is no such thing as a perfect insulator, but materials which resist current the most strongly include glass, paper, ceramics, most plastics and generally most non-metals. Materials which can conduct some current, but don’t do it very well, are called semiconductors. These include silicon and germanium, and are used frequently in electronics.
Materials which conduct current well are called conductors. Solid conductors include most metals, such as copper. This is why electrical wiring is made of metal, with plastic coating on the outside; the electrical current flows down the metal wire but is insulated by the plastic coating. Gold and silver are also very good conductors.
For a liquid to conduct electricity, it must contain a high concentration of ions. Distilled water is a relatively poor conductor because it has very few ions. Adding ionic solids (such as table salt) to a liquid will increase its conductivity. Tap water is generally a very good conductor because it has plenty of ions. So is lake water, which is why it is dangerous to swim during a lightning storm. Water which contains an acid or a base also makes a good conductor, because when an acid or a base is dissolved in water it breaks down into ions. Sulfuric or hydrochloric acid dissolved in water make good conductors. Vinegar is generally too weak an acid to have the same effect.
Learn more about ChemistryRelated Questions
-
Q:
What distinguishes a metal from a nonmetal?
A: In general, metals, unlike nonmetals, are good conductors of heat and electricity, malleable, ductile, and almost always solid at room temperature. Metals ... Full Answer >Filed Under: -
Q:
How does a septic system work?
A: Septic systems work by separating solids from liquids in the septic tank and allowing the liquids to pass into the drain field where the soil purifies the ... Full Answer >Filed Under: -
Q:
Why does milk freeze faster than other liquids?
A: The freezing point of a liquid depends on the water content of the liquid, so milk freezes faster than liquids with lower water content. Milk is available ... Full Answer >Filed Under: -
Q:
What makes metal rust?
A: Not all metal rusts, but the metals that do rust do so because of an oxidation reaction between the metal and water and oxygen. Oxidation is the process by... Full Answer >Filed Under:
