2040 – 08 – About Electrical Conductivity

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If a material is electrically conductive, electricity can easily move through it. Electricity is transmitted through electrons and conductors promote the movement of electricity. A resistor slows the movement of electricity. Insulators, which are essential to modern electricity, are highly resistant to electric charge.

Metals are held together by metallic bonds, which makes them great electrical conductors. A metallic bond has electrons that have a fairly unrestricted range of movement within their electron cloud. Their frequent movement means they can transmit electric signals quickly and easily. Ceramics and polymers are bad conductors because they have ionic bonds and covalent bonds. The electrons in these bonds tend to stay put.