Question

Distinguish between conductors and insulators. Give some of their examples.

Answer 1

Most of the materials can be broadly classified into two categories: conductors and insulators.

Conductors— Conductors are the substances through which electric charges can flow easily. For example, the electrons of the outer shells of metallic atoms are loosely bound to the nucleus. These electrons are quite free to move. So metals have high electrical conductivity.

Ex— metals (copper, silver, aluminium), graphites, human body, acids, alkalies, water solution of salts etc.

Insulators— Insulators are the substances through which electric charges cannot move freely. In insulators, the electrons are tightly bound to the nucleus and cannot move away from it. As the electric charges cannot move freely in insulators, so they are poor conductor of electricity.

Ex— diamond, rubber, glass, wood, mica, plastic, ebonite, distilled water.