Question

What is the difference between conductor and insulator?

Answer 1

Conductors and insulators are basically materials which are classified on the basis of transmission of electricity. Electricity is the flow of electrons or the charged particles to move from one place to another on the surfaces of the objects. We need to know that the conductors and insulators have equal and unique properties.

Complete step-by-step solution:
Conductors, as the name suggests, allow the flow of charged particles through them. They conduct the electricity. Insulators on the other hand, do not allow the passage of electricity through them. In other words, they restrict the flow of charged particles. Conductors store energy in them whereas insulators do not. There will be an electric field existing on the surface of the conductor but regarding insulators, as expected, it is zero. Thermal conductivity is the transmission of heat energy which is high for conductors and low for insulators. The valence bond of conductors is empty due to no energy gap and flow of electricity but for insulators, it is full of electrons. Conduction band of conductors is full of electrons whereas for insulators, it remains to be empty or zero.
Examples of conductors: Silver,Copper, Iron etc
Examples of insulators: Wood, paper, rubber etc.

Note: Conductors are widely used in the electrical industry for making wires and other appliances. Insulators are used to keep electricity from touching unwanted surfaces like humans, walls supporting other electrical related objects etc and hence conducting materials like wires are grooved in insulators.