Conductors:

In some of the materials, electrons move easily from atom to atom. In others, the electrons move with complexity. And in some materials, it is nearly impossible to get them to move. Electrical conductor is a substance in which the electrons are highly mobile.

The best conductor, at least among general materials, at room temperature is pure elemental silver. The copper and aluminum are also superb electrical conductors. Steel, iron, and different other metals are fair to good conductors of electricity. Some liquids are good conductors. The Mercury is one illustration. Salt water is a pretty conductor. Gases are, in common, poor conductors since the atoms or molecules are so far apart to permit a free exchange of electrons. Though, if a gas is ionized, it can be a fair conductor of electricity.

Electrons in a conductor do not move in a stable stream such as molecules of water via a garden hose. They pass from atom to atom as shown in figure below. This takes place to countless atoms all the time. As an outcome, trillions of electrons pass a given point each second in a usual electric circuit.

Figure: In an electrical conductor, electrons pass simply from atom to atom. This diagram is greatly simplified.

Imagine a long line of people, each one constantly passing a ball to his or her neighbor on the right. When there are plenty of balls along the line, and if everyone remains passing balls along as they come, the outcome is a steady stream of balls moving along the line. This symbolizes a good conductor. When the people become lazy or tired and do not feel much like passing the balls along, the rate of flow reduces. The conductor is no longer very good.