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Question

what property of metal makes useful as electrical wires explain this property in terms of the atoms involved

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Solution

Ductility :

The ability of metals to be drawn into thin wires is called ductility. Gold is the most ductile metal. You will be surprised to know that a wire of about 2 km in length can be drawn from one gram of gold.

The ductility of metals (such as copper) is its ability to be stretched into wires.

Electrical conductivity of metals

1. The property by which metals facilitate the flow of electric current through them is called electrical conductivity.

2. All metals are good conductors of electricity because they contain free or mobile electrons. These free electrons conduct electric currents.

3. Silver is the best conductor of electricity. Since silver is expensive, copper and aluminium are commonly used for making electric wires. These metals are the next best conductors of electricity. However, iron and mercury offer greater resistance to the flow of current. Therefore, they have low electrical conductivities.

Copper is typically used in home wiring because of its relative availability and its good ductility and conductivity.


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