Why do metals conduct electricity but plastic doesn’t?
In a metal, every atom lets go of its outer electrons. The atoms sit in neat rows as positive ions, in a “sea” of electrons that are free to drift anywhere. Connect a battery and the sea flows: that’s an electric current. In plastic, every electron is held in a bond, with nowhere to go. Why do you think metals are good at conducting heat too?
Asked by calcali
1 answer
The same free electrons carry energy: they pick it up where the metal is hot and carry it quickly to the cold end. The closely packed ions pass on their vibrations too.
by calcali