Which element conducts electricity?
(1) iron
(2) iodine
(3) sulfur
(4) phosphorus
The Correct Answer and Explanation is :
The correct answer is (1) iron.
Explanation:
Electrical conductivity refers to the ability of a material to conduct an electric current. This property is largely dependent on the arrangement and behavior of the electrons within a material. Materials that conduct electricity well are typically metals, as they have free-moving electrons that allow the flow of electrical current.
Iron is a metal, and like most metals, it has a structure that allows electrons to move freely within it. This makes iron an excellent conductor of electricity. In metals, the outermost electrons are loosely bound and can move relatively easily through the metallic structure when a potential difference (voltage) is applied. This free movement of electrons is what allows for the conduction of electricity.
On the other hand, iodine, sulfur, and phosphorus are nonmetals. Nonmetals generally do not have free-moving electrons, and as a result, they are poor conductors of electricity. These elements do not have the same type of metallic bonding found in metals like iron, which enables efficient conduction. Instead, nonmetals tend to form molecular or covalent bonds where electrons are shared or localized, making it harder for the electrons to move freely and carry an electric current.
- Iodine is a halogen and exists as a molecular solid in its most stable form, where the electrons are more localized within each molecule and cannot easily move across the material to conduct electricity.
- Sulfur is also a nonmetal, existing in a molecular form where electrons are not free to move in a way that would allow electricity to flow.
- Phosphorus exists in several allotropes, but all are nonmetals that have similar properties to sulfur and iodine regarding electron movement.
Thus, the only element listed that can effectively conduct electricity is iron, a metal that possesses the necessary free-moving electrons to allow electrical conductivity.