Why is copper wire a better conductor of electricity than carbon fiber?(1 point)
Responses
Copper (Cu) is a metal, and only metals can conduct electricity.
Copper (Cu) is a metal, and only metals can conduct electricity.
The electrons in copper (Cu) are loosely bound to the nucleus.
The electrons in copper (Cu) are loosely bound to the nucleus.
Carbon (C) does not have any valence electrons.
Carbon (C) does not have any valence electrons.
Copper (Cu) has no loose electrons.
Copper (Cu) has loosely bound electrons that can move freely through the material, allowing for efficient transfer of electrical current. Carbon fiber, on the other hand, is a non-metal and has a covalent bonding structure which does not allow for easy movement of electrons, making it a poor conductor of electricity.
The correct response is:
The electrons in copper (Cu) are loosely bound to the nucleus.
The correct answer is: The electrons in copper (Cu) are loosely bound to the nucleus.
To understand why copper wire is a better conductor of electricity than carbon fiber, we need to consider the properties of the two materials at the atomic level.
In copper, which is a metal, the outermost energy level (also known as valence level) of the copper atoms contains only one electron. These valence electrons are not tightly held by the copper atoms and are free to move within the lattice structure of the metal. This free movement of electrons allows for the efficient flow of electricity through copper wires.
On the other hand, carbon fiber is made up of carbon atoms that form covalent bonds with each other. In this structure, the outermost energy levels of the carbon atoms are fully occupied with electrons, and there are no free electrons available for conducting electricity. As a result, carbon fiber has poor conductivity compared to metals like copper.
In summary, the loose and mobile valence electrons in copper make it a better conductor of electricity compared to carbon fiber, which lacks free electrons for the conduction of electrical current.