Question

Name the material used for making the connection wires.
A) Tin
B) Copper
C) Lead
D) Tungsten

Answer 1

Connection wires can be made of any material, which can conduct electricity. It is not only the conductivity that decides the best among the materials, but also other properties, including physical and chemical properties of the material. Connection wires are usually made in such a manner that they are insulated, to prevent external chemical reactions on the material, which is used to make these wires.

Complete step-by-step solution:
The most commonly used material to make connection wires is copper. Whether it be housing wires or the connections in electronic devices, almost all the connection wires in the market are made using copper.
Copper is a chemical element with an atomic number of 29. It is a soft, malleable, and ductile metal, which has high values of thermal and electrical conductivity. The malleability of copper refers to the property of copper to be pressed into different shapes and sizes. Ductility of copper refers to the maximum plastic deformation, the metal can withstand without breaking. Copper’s high values of thermal conductivity, as well as electrical conductivity, make it the best choice for making connection wires.
Copper has very low electrical resistance. It has a high melting point and does not tend to expand at high temperatures. Its corrosion resistance power is very high, which makes it reliable in nature. It is also a material which can be soldered easily. Moreover, copper wires are easy to manufacture and are cost-efficient.
From the above options, Copper is the most suitable material for making connection wires.

Additional Information:
Despite competition from many other materials, copper is still the most preferred metal for the transmission of electricity. As already mentioned through the malleable and ductile properties of the metal, copper also has high tensile strength. It can be used to withstand heavy loads while transmitting electricity at the same time. It is highly flexible and can be bent easily without breaking. Generally, we have two types of connection wires with respect to the shape of copper used to make these wires. A solid copper wire has a single strand of thick copper in cylindrical form whereas a stranded wire has a number of thin copper strands joined together to make the connection wire thicker. A solid copper wire is used in breadboard connections and is used in situations when little flexibility is required. A stranded copper wire is more flexible and is used in situations where high flexibility is required. Both these types of copper wires are insulated using rubber or other polymeric materials.

Copper is readily available on the earth’s surface, which makes the electrical wiring industry to not look for other substitutes. Copper wires are widely used in power generation, power transmission, telecommunications, and electronics industry.

Note: Aluminium is also a leading material, which is used to make connection wires. Aluminum has high conductivity and is more malleable and flexible than copper. It is more corrosion-resistant than copper, which makes it the best choice for power transmission through aerial lines.
Students need not get confused with the other provided options, even though some of the materials mentioned in the options are electrically conductive. In this particular question, all they need to look for is copper or aluminum.