Question

Which of the following is the best conductor of electricity?
(a) Copper
(b) Gold
(c) Platinum
(d) Silver

Answer 1

Concept of conductivity and the factors on which it depends. Goods conductivity refers to a good conductor.

Complete step by step answer:
Electrical conductivity means the ability of a material to transmit or conduct the flow of charge carriers or current in it.
More easily the current flows, more will be the electrical conductivity. As the flow of current depends upon the free electrons available which can be found from the valency and the crystal structure.Metals conduct electricity easily and the best conductor out of these are silver. The reason behind it is that in silver, there are electrons free to move than those in other elements which results in it to be the best conductor of electricity followed by Copper and Gold.
Hence, option (D) is the correct option.
Additional Information:
The elements in decreasing order of conductivity are arranged as below:

1. Silver
2. Copper
3. Gold
4. Aluminium
5. Zinc
6. Nickel
7. Brass
8. Bronze
10. Platinum
11. Carbon steel
12. Lead
13. Stainless steel

Note: Remember the conductivity and resistivity are opposite terms not the same. Resistivity is the resistance offered while conductivity is the ease in flow. Also here they have asked about electrical conductivity not thermal conductivity.