Why do conductors have a sea of electrons while insulators don't?

In summary, a sea of electrons is present in a conductor because the atoms in metallic conductors bond in a way that allows for free electrons to move freely throughout the material. This is in contrast to insulators, which do not have this type of bonding and therefore do not have a sea of electrons. This also means that conductors do not need thermal energy to free their electrons, unlike insulators. The sharing of electrons in metallic bonding allows for the free movement of electrons in conductors.
  • #1
shihab-kol
119
8
Why is a sea of electrons present in a conductor?
I read some where that they absorb a energy at normal temperatures and use it to get free electrons , but then why do they absorb energy while insulators don't??
 
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  • #2
In metallic conductors the atoms bond together in a particular way that results in one or more electrons being shared completely between the atoms. The behavior of huge numbers of these electrons in a metal can be described as a "sea of free charges", meaning that they are free to roam around the entire conductor at will.

shihab-kol said:
I read some where that they absorb a energy at normal temperatures and use it to get free electrons , but then why do they absorb energy while insulators don't??

Conductors already have free electrons and don't need thermal energy to free the electrons from their atoms.
 
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Likes vanhees71
  • #3
Ok.
What do you mean by "being shared completely"? How do they roam around then?PS
How do you insert quotes?
 
  • #4
shihab-kol said:
What do you mean by "being shared completely"? How do they roam around then?

Metallic bonding: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Metallic_bonding

The sharing let's them move throughout the entire material freely. There's not much more I can say about that. See if the link above helps.

shihab-kol said:
How do you insert quotes?

Click "Reply" to quote the entire post. Highly text in a post and click "Reply" in the popup to quote that piece of text. Alternatively, you can click "Quote" instead to add that post or piece of text to a quote que. After adding text or posts to the quote que, you click "Insert Quotes" that appears in the bottom left of the reply box.
 
  • #5
Thanks.
That helped and the quote part too!
 

1. What are conductors and how do they work?

Conductors are materials that allow electricity to flow through them. This is because they have a high number of free electrons that are able to move easily through the material. When a conductor is connected to a power source, the free electrons will move in the direction of the electric field, creating an electric current.

2. How do conductors differ from insulators?

Insulators are materials that do not allow electricity to flow through them. Unlike conductors, they have a low number of free electrons and therefore do not conduct electricity well. This is why insulators are used to protect us from electric shocks, as they do not allow the current to pass through our bodies.

3. What factors affect the conductivity of a material?

The conductivity of a material is affected by several factors, including temperature, the material's atomic structure, and the presence of impurities. Higher temperatures can cause atoms to vibrate more, making it harder for the electrons to move freely. A material's atomic structure also plays a role, as materials with a more orderly structure tend to have higher conductivity. The presence of impurities can also hinder the flow of electrons, reducing the conductivity of a material.

4. Can conductors become insulators?

Yes, under certain conditions, conductors can become insulators. This is known as the insulator-to-conductor transition and occurs when the material is subjected to high pressures or low temperatures. In these extreme conditions, the material's atomic structure changes, causing the free electrons to lose their ability to move easily through the material.

5. How are conductors used in everyday life?

Conductors play a crucial role in our everyday lives. They are used in electrical wiring to transport electricity to power our homes, devices, and appliances. They are also used in electronics, such as computers and smartphones, to allow the flow of electricity for their functions. Conductors are also used in industries such as transportation, telecommunications, and healthcare, making them essential for modern society.

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