The flow of electric charges in a metallic conductor

Introduction:

First, we need to understand what Electric Charge is. So, the physical property of a thing that causes it to experience an electric force is called an electric charge. It is represented by “q”. The unit of electric charge is “coulomb”. Electric Charges are of two types, i.e. Positive Charge and negative charge. 

Now, about metallic conductors, what metallic conductor is? So, the metallic conductor is the metal that conducts electricity due to the flow of electrons. So let us understand more about the flow of electric charges in a metallic conductor, conduction of electricity in liquids, conduction of electricity in substances, and ionic and covalent compounds.

Body:

Let us understand what positive and negative charge is.

Positive charge:

Protons are more than the electrons in any object when the object is positively charged.

Negative charge:

Electrons are more than the protons in any object when the object is negatively charged.

The flow of Electric Charge in a Metallic Conductor:

An electric current flows when electrons move through a conductor, such as a metal wire. A flow of negatively charged electrons transports electricity through metallic conductors. The electrons can move from one atom to another because they are free to move.  

If an electric field is applied, an electric charge will experience a force. If it is free to move, it will contribute to a current. In some materials, the electrons will still be bound, i.e. even if an electric field is applied, they will not accelerate. In other materials, notably metals, some electrons are practically free to move within the bulky material. These materials, generally called conductors.

Let us now see a piece of a conductor if an electric field is applied. The electrons will be propelled in a direction opposite to the field. As long as the electrons travel, they will form an electric current. As a result, there will be a current for a very brief time and then no current in the condition under consideration.

Free electrons in a conductor are always in a state of random motion with a velocity of the order of 104 m/s. And the flow of an electric charge in a conductor without applying a potential difference is zero. 

Conduction of electricity in liquids:

Conduction of electricity does not take place in every liquid. Because some are good conductors of electricity and some are poor conductors of electricity. Pure water conducts electricity poorly, so it is a poor conductor, whereas the water containing salt and minerals conducts electricity and hence, are good conductors of electricity. 

When electricity is passed through impure water, it gets broken down and gets separated into ions, i.e. they separate into various particles which are electrically charged. Salt starts separating into Na positive ions and Cl negative ions. 

If a battery is placed it makes a closed circuit as the positive ions are drawn to the negative pole, and negative ions are drawn to the positive pole. 

Conduction of electricity in a substance:

According to the electric conductivity, the substances can be classified into two categories, i.e. There are two types of electricity conductors: excellent conductors and bad conductors. Electrical conductivity refers to a material’s capacity to carry electrons.

The substances that allow electricity to flow through them are good conductors of electricity – for example, acidic and alkaline solution, copper, aluminum, and iron. In electrical conductors, the electrical charges move from atom to atom quickly. A good conductor of electricity carries an electric current in the end to end voltage such as gold, silver, aluminum, and copper. Some conductors are non-metals, for example, carbon. 

The substances that do not allow electricity to flow through them are bad conductors of electricity – for example, gasses, surgery solutions, wood, plastic, and phosphorus. 

Insulators are bad conductors of electricity. Because no charge carriers carry the electric current as rubber, the glass has high resistivity. 

Some materials do not classify either conductors or insulators and are known as semiconductors. Semiconductors conduct the electric current but very poorly. In some conditions, semiconductors act as good conductors but act as bad conductors in some situations – such as silicon, germanium, and other metal oxides. 

Semiconductors have conductivity in the region between conductors and insulators. When the temperature of a semiconductor increases, the resistance falls, and the conductivity increases.

Ionic and covalent compound:

A metal is bound to a non-metal in ionic compounds. Ionic compounds have a high melting point and boiling point, form crystals, form electrolytes in water, and are hard and brittle. Examples of ionic compounds are Sodium chloride (NaCl), sodium hydroxide (NaOH), and sodium hypochlorite(NaCl). 

Covalent compounds consist of non-metal bonds to others. Covalent compounds have a lower melting point and boiling point. They are electrical insulators and are softer than ionic compounds. Examples of covalent compounds are Water (H2O), Ammonia (NH3), and sucrose (C12H22O11).

Conclusion:

We have here discussed about the electric charges or the flow of electric charges in metallic conductors, conduction of electricity in liquids, conduction of electricity in substance, and ionic and covalent compounds. And we take the brief knowledge about the flow of electric charges in metallic conductors. And there are some more ways to understand this topic, like through the equation of using any law like Ohm’s law, which is a well-known law.