, and iron is a lot worse. 
nasu said:
…tiny-tim said:conductivity (both thermal and electrical) in metals depends on its resistance, and resistance comes mostly from the rigidity of the molecular structure (if molecules won't get out of the way of electrons, they slow down, so hard metals have higher resistance than soft metals) … see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Copper#Physical"
This is because the resistivity to electron transport in metals at room temperature mostly originates from scattering of electrons on thermal vibrations of the lattice, which are relatively weak for a soft metal.
the softness is caused by the weakness of the metallic bonds … in copper (and silver and gold), they are not covalent (because those elements have a complete d-shell and only one s-electron on top, see image at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Electron_shell_029_Copper.svg" ) …
Contrary to metals with incomplete d-shells, metallic bonds in copper are lacking a covalent character and are relatively weak. This explains the low hardness and high ductility of single crystals of copper.
…
Copper, silver and gold are in group 11 of the periodic table, and they share certain attributes: they have one s-orbital electron on top of a filled d-electron shell and are characterized by high ductility and electrical conductivity. The filled d-shells in these elements do not contribute much to the interatomic interactions, which are dominated by the s-electrons through metallic bonds.
sankalpmittal said:
…You mentioned metallic bonds in thermal conductivitytiny-tim said:oooh, that's chemistry, I've no idea
you'll have to look it up!what's k,l,m,n ?
ratnesh dubey said:
sankalpmittal said:
)Do you know any site which can teach chemistry from sheer basics to advanced level ?
tiny-tim said:ahh, you seem to be using the special X-ray spectroscopy notation …
for everything else, we use s p d and f …
K L M and N refer to the number of shells (the l quantum number)
s p d and f correspond to the subscripts 1 2 3 and 4 (the n quantum number), eg L1 L2 L3 …
see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/X-ray_notation" for the conversion table
(now, why couldn't you have found that?
for a full explanation of s p d f, see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electron_configuration#Notation"
see this forum's "Math & Science Learning Materials" at https://www.physicsforums.com/forumdisplay.php?f=151"
Copper is a better heat conductor than iron because of its molecular structure. Copper atoms are arranged in a way that allows for more efficient transfer of heat energy compared to iron atoms. This is due to the presence of more free electrons in copper, which can easily move and transfer heat energy.
The atomic structure of copper is characterized by its loosely bound electrons in the outermost energy level. These electrons are able to move freely and transfer heat energy through the material. In comparison, iron has a more tightly packed atomic structure which limits the movement of electrons and thus, reduces its heat conductivity.
While copper is generally considered a better heat conductor than iron, its conductivity can decrease at higher temperatures. This is because as the temperature increases, the copper atoms start to vibrate more vigorously, hindering the movement of electrons and reducing its conductivity. However, even at high temperatures, copper still maintains a higher heat conductivity compared to iron.
Yes, the thickness of copper can have an impact on its heat conductivity. Thicker copper has more atoms and electrons available for heat transfer, making it more efficient at conducting heat. However, the difference in heat conductivity between thin and thick copper is not significant, as the molecular structure of copper is the main factor that determines its heat conductivity.
Yes, other factors such as purity, density, and surface finish can also affect the heat conductivity of copper. Pure copper has a higher heat conductivity compared to copper alloys, as impurities can disrupt the movement of electrons. A higher density of copper also allows for more atoms and electrons to be present, increasing its heat conductivity. Additionally, a smooth surface finish can minimize resistance and facilitate the transfer of heat energy through copper.