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Why is diamond an electrical insulator while it is a good conductor of heat?
Wiki User
∙ 15y ago
Diamond is a good thermal conductor. But it is an excellent electrical insulator. How?
Diamond crystal is a three-dimensional network of carbon atoms. All carbon atoms in the network are strongly bonded by carbon-carbon covalent bonds.
The diamond crystal has a highly symmetric cubic structure. The carbon atoms in diamond are precisely aligned. Thus diamond is an ideal crystal. Atoms in the crystal lattices in solids vibrate.
These vibrations, called the atomic vibrations facilitate thermal conduction (transport of heat) in solids. In an ideal crystal, the lattices are so precisely aligned that they do not interact with each other.
Therefore an ideal crystal conducts better than a non-ideal crystal resulting in ideal crystals having good thermal conductivity, which is a measure of heat conduction. Diamond being an ideal crystal is thus a good thermal conductor.
Mobile electrons facilitate electrical conduction - flow of current in solids. There are no free mobile electrons in diamond crystal to facilitate electrial conduction. Thus diamond is an excellent electrical insulator. In more simple terms, Diamond has a unique atomic structure. Each of the Carbon atom's valence electrons is taken up in covalent bonding, so each electron is localised. This means that no one electron is free to pass an electric current through the Diamond - thus, Diamond cannot carry an electrical current; there is nothing to pass the current through.
Wiki User
∙ 15y ago
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What is an electrical insulator an conductor?
The substances that do not conduct electricity are called electrical insulators while those which conduct electricity are called conductors.
Is a carbon rod an insulator?
A carbon rod may be an insulator or a conductor. It depends on which allotrope of carbon we're talking about. Electricity can travel through a graphite (carbon) rod easily, but it cannot travel through a diamond rod. Both graphite and diamond are carbon, but the former is a conductor while the latter is an insulator.
7 Give examples of a conductor and an insulator?
If we speak in terms of electrical conductivity, some good insulators are ceramics, plastics, rubber and glass. Conductors are, on the other hand, metals in general: copper, silver, gold, but there are some good conductors that are not metals, like graphite and some salt solutions.
What objects act like a conductor and insulator?
The substances which have free electrons(which move freely ) act as conductor while those whose electrons held tightly (which can not move freely) are insulator.
Are good electrical conductors often good thermal conductors too?
Diamond is one example. In fact it has on of the highest thermal conductivity coefficients measured to date while generally being an electrical insulator.
Diamond is an insulator while graphite conducts electricity?
Diamond is considered the hardest mineral known to man, while graphite is one of the softest. Diamond is an excellent electrical insulator, while graphite is a good conductor of electricity. This is due to the way the carbon atoms are arranged in each mineral.
What is an electrical insulator an conductor?
The substances that do not conduct electricity are called electrical insulators while those which conduct electricity are called conductors.
Is a carbon rod an insulator?
A carbon rod may be an insulator or a conductor. It depends on which allotrope of carbon we're talking about. Electricity can travel through a graphite (carbon) rod easily, but it cannot travel through a diamond rod. Both graphite and diamond are carbon, but the former is a conductor while the latter is an insulator.
7 Give examples of a conductor and an insulator?
If we speak in terms of electrical conductivity, some good insulators are ceramics, plastics, rubber and glass. Conductors are, on the other hand, metals in general: copper, silver, gold, but there are some good conductors that are not metals, like graphite and some salt solutions.
What is the difference of a conductor from an insulator?
A Conductor like copper, conducts current or electricity while an Insulator works just the opposite it doesn't conduct current or electricity.
Is glass or metal a better conductor?
Glass has a higher conductivity than thin plastic but,it is still lower than metal so metal may be a better conductor
What objects act like a conductor and insulator?
The substances which have free electrons(which move freely ) act as conductor while those whose electrons held tightly (which can not move freely) are insulator.
Are good electrical conductors often good thermal conductors too?
Diamond is one example. In fact it has on of the highest thermal conductivity coefficients measured to date while generally being an electrical insulator.
How are conductor and insulator alike?
They are not alike at all. A conductor allows for the free passage of electrons throughout its body, while an insulator does not allow electrons to flow through its body.
How are conducters different from insulators?
A conductor will allow electricity to flow through it while an insulator will not
Is CD case an conductor?
harddisks are constructed from an aluminum platter (conductor) coated with a magnetic metal oxide (insulator)floppy discs are constructed from a plastic sheet (insulator) coated with a magnetic metal oxide (insulator)however the function of computer disks in no way depends on the property of being a conductor/insulator, only on its ability to retain tiny magnetic domains while permitting them to be easily modified.
What do you call something that allows heat or electricity to pass through it?
A material that allows heat or electricity to pass through it is called a conductor. The opposite of that is called an insulator. For electricity, the wire inside is the conductor, while the plastic on the outside is an insulator.
